[Publib] Miss Potter and 300 - Film Stories and Sources

[Carole Bos]

Two very different films are opening in wide release this weekend.  "Miss Potter" tells the story of Peter Rabbit's creator while "300" graphically portrays the famous battle at Thermopylae.  

This web site http://www.awesomestories.com/movies/miss_potter/miss_potter_ch1.htm links to primary sources and explanatory animations about Beatrix Potter, her life in Victorian Britain, her sources of inspiration, her editor Norman Warne and her life after she no longer wrote the "little books."  It also provides pictures of the "real Peter Rabbit," the original "story letters" which later became books, a list of discussion topics and a virtual field trip to Potter's beloved Lake District.  

Another site provides the story behind the movie "300" and the battle of Thermopylae. http://www.awesomestories.com/movies/300_story/300_story_ch1.htm  It includes links to primary sources, explanatory animations, on-line games from the British Museum (illustrating how Spartan children were educated and how Greeks operated trireme ships), plus much more.   

The site is free for all schools, libraries and educators.  Request group access with this form.  https://www.awesomestories.com/signup.php?ua=group_signup   It is also free, through March, for individual students, their parents and members of the general public.  Select an individual password with this form.  https://www.awesomestories.com/signup.php?ua=individual_signup  A privacy policy http://www.awesomestories.com/content/privacy.shtml is strictly enforced.

Carole Bos
Dean's Advisory Board
Grand Valley State University
bosc at gvsu.edu