The Tales of Beatrix Potter Guided Reading Part I

The Tales of Beatrix Potter Guided Reading
Part I: 5 plays including:
The Tales of
• Peter Rabbit
• Squirrel Nutkin
• Benjamin Bunny
• The Two Bad Mice
and
The Tailor of Gloucester
These five scripts each take approximately five minutes to read, with six speakers each. They are simple adaptations/conversation pieces based on Beatrix Potter’s tales, for use within the class room. They can either be used as group readers or combined to create a whole class play/assembly.
They can be used as PSHE/Citizenship and/or Literacy resources – there are many tips on behaviour both within the scripts and afterwards, in the Q & A/Discussion sections. In the case of the latter, these offer a very simple line of questioning – they are intended as a starting point for further discussion and can of course be expanded beyond this simple format.
Tale 1 The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Cast of 6
Peter Rabbit
Triplet sisters:
Flopsy
Mopsy
&
Cottontail
Mother Rabbit
Mr. McGregor
A bowlful of chamomile soup – as punishment for trespass? No wonder so many of these furry creatures of the animal kingdom think they can get away with anything.
Or can they? Time those rabbits had a taste of real discipline!
Sample Text:
Mr. McGregor: Yes, indeed. Up to his old tricks again – or heading that way!
(To Mother Rabbit) Have you no control over him?
Mother Rabbit: (Indignantly) I can assure you he will receive the severest punishment!
Mr. McGregor: You mean, chamomile tea for supper?
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail: (Gasping in horror) Oh no! Not that!
Mr. McGregor: (Shaking his head) And you think that is going to put him straight?
(Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail all nod their heads)
Mr. McGregor: (To Mother Rabbit) Seriously?
(Mother Rabbit dips her head in embarrassment)
Mr. McGregor: Strikes me we need to take a slightly different route. One which will teach the young fella a lesson but will be useful to him at the same time, keeping him out of mischief.
Tale 2 The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Cast of 6
Squirrel Nutkin
Twinkleberry (brother)
Cousin 1, 2 and 3
Mr. Brown (the owl)
How much more irritating can one squirrel be? This one, going by the name of Nutkin, has annoying ways in spades. Definitely time he was taught a lesson! (Are we getting a bit of a pattern, here?)
Sample Text
Squirrel Nutkin: (Repeating) Each day? You mean I have to work for you as long as you say so?
Mr. Brown: Aha! You’re cleverer than you look! Good to see you catching on so quickly. Correct!
Squirrel Nutkin: (Spluttering) But, but I have a life! You can’t take that away from me?
Mr. Brown: Watch me! You will have no life until you work out what you have done wrong.