Peter and the Wolf - Lesson 1

There are lots of fun activities to do with the wonderful story and music of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev.   But before you can have fun with these activities you have to introduce the children to the story and to the music.  My favorite introduction is with the movie produced in 1996 with Lloyd Bridges and Kirstie Alley.  You can purchase this at amazon.

The reason I like it is 1.  It has a real story line    2.  There is a wonderful underlying theme about the magic of childhood and the child's imagination   3.  You learn the music without being bored to death!   4.  The kids like the play between the real characters and the animation.   5.  There is an unanswered question about whether the grandfather in the story really was Peter.  The little kids love this!

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Wolf-Kirstie-Alley/dp/B00008EY6W/ref=sr_1_3?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1300068485&sr=1-3

So my suggestion for lesson 1 is to get this DVD and watch it together.  You can check libraries if you want.  I don't know what they may have.  There may be another version that you might like better.  The newer one by director Suzie Templeton is said to be "darker" in its theme.  I love the Lloyd Bridges version.  It is definitely light and fun for young children.

I have to admit that I also showed my kids the Disney version.  It is fun and silly and they laugh and laugh.  I just always saved it until we were done with our whole unit and then we celebrated by watching that version.  It is on youtube in two parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILI3s7Wonvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCgJXD3J9Wc&feature=related