In honor of Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday on July 28, 2016, we threw a party! These activities, crafts, and snacks can be used for springtime parties, Easter parties, garden programs, and, of course, Peter Rabbit programs. Our party began by gathering participants for an introduction followed by a reading of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, two movement activities, and a variety of craft, game, and snack stations to be enjoyed at their leisure. 

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The promotional blurb for this program was: "Join us for a story, games, crafts, and tasty treats as we celebrate The Tale of Peter Rabbit author's 150th birthday! For ages 2 through 5 from 10AM-11AM."

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Participants received a cardstock character to wear around their neck upon entering the room. These were later used to get kids moving and acting like their characters. 

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Children were seated on the floor and given a brief introduction to the life of the very talented Beatrix Potter..."As a child, Beatrix would frequently bring home birds, mice, frogs, and even snakes to keep as pets. Would your parents be happy if you brought home a snake?! She loved to draw pictures of these and other creatures wearing clothes and acting like humans."

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This was followed by a reading of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. A powerpoint with the illustrations was used to enhance the reading as most print editions are too small for a crowd. Then we got moving with a bunny movement song:

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One little, two, little, three little bunnies

Four little, five little, six little bunnies

Seven little, eight little, nine little bunnies

Ten bunnies hopping all around

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Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop little bunnies

Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop little bunnies

Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop little bunnies

Bunnies hopping all around!

(Feel free to count down from ten too.)

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Next, I asked which characters the children were wearing around their necks and we practiced acting like each one. These included waddling like Jemma Puddle-Duck, meowing and scratching our claws like Tom Kitten, hopping and twitching our noses like Benjamin Bunny, and shaking our bushy tails like Squirrel Nutkin. Then we sat and children with the appropriate characters were asked to stand in accordance with my Potter version of If You Are Wearing Red Today:

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If you are a Puddle-Duck, a Puddle-Duck, a Puddle-Duck

If you are a Puddle-Duck, stand up and waddle around!

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If you are Tom Kitten, Tom Kitten, Tom Kitten

If you are Tom Kitten, stand up to meow and scratch!

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If you are Benjamin Bunny, Benjamin Bunny, Benjamin Bunny

If you are Benjamin Bunny, stand up and hop around!

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If you are Squirrel Nutkin, Squirrel Nutkin, Squirrel Nutkin

If you are Squirrel Nutkin, stand up and shake your tail!

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Finally, the participants were let loose to enjoy the craft and activity stations pictured below. Snacks are not pictured, but included carrots, blackberries (like Peter Rabbit's siblings had for supper) and DIY garden cupcakes (chocolate cupcakes, green frosting, and oreo crumb "soil" sprinkled on top).