Beatrix Potter

Help your class find out about the woman behind some of the most famous children’s stories in the world with this ‘Beatrix Potter’ set of lessons for KS1. Your class will find out about her fascinating life, as well as how characters such as Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck came to life.

With lesson plans, engaging slides with several Beatrix Potter stories included, differentiated activity ideas and a range of printable resources, these lessons will give you and your class the chance to bring the world of Beatrix Potter to life in your classroom.

Growing Up

The first lesson in this series introduces your class to Beatrix Potter. They will find out when she was born and be given information about her early life and her experiences as a child and young adult. They will find out about a naughty little rabbit called Peter and how a letter to the son of her old governess would change her life forever.

View Lesson 1

The Stories

This lesson teaches your class how Peter Rabbit paved the way for Beatrix Potter to become one of the most famous children’s authors and illustrators in the world. They will find out about Beatrix’s personal life up until the death of her fiancé, as well as reading some of the more familiar tales she wrote during this period.

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Later Life and Legacy

The final lesson in this short series looks at Beatrix Potter’s life after she bought Hill Top Farm in the Lake District. After recapping what they have already found out about her life, your class will then learn about her marriage to William Heelis and her conservation efforts before considering her legacy, not just in terms of the stories and characters she gave to the world but also in terms of the land she bequeathed to the National Trust. By the end of the lesson, your class will have plenty to say in answer to the question, ‘Why is Beatrix Potter special?’

View Lesson 3