visits & workshops
I love visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores to share cool things with cool kids (and that means all of them)! I offer workshops that focus on writing (fiction and nonfiction) or on STEM-related or historical content - or both. All workshops are interactive and fun.
All these workshops look good? I can put together an all-day program. Contact me about my rates and availability.
1
Writing about reality
Factual does not mean boring! We take a fun look at fiction techniques - such as hooks and other elements of storytelling - that you can use to spice up your nonfiction. This workshop draws on my experience as a journalist and as an author for National Geographic Kids Books. It's tailored to different levels: fourth grade through high school.
2
It's all how you see it
Perspective is a powerful tool for any writer. I share some great examples of different perspectives, and then you learn how to power up your own writing by changing perspective. This is a fun, game-based workshop for elementary through high school.
3
On a roll
This is an interactive STEM-based workshop that looks at either the engineering design or physics of roller coasters and some history of coaster design. I first share a true story about roller coaster design, and then we get hands on with a fun roller coaster experiment. We learn about engineering or scientific processes, design and physics - and how to write up our experiment. This workshop, which draws on my How Things Work series for National Geographic Kids, is tailored to elementary through sixth grade.
4
Your family history mystery
In this workshop, based on my National Geographic Kids Guide to Genealogy, we explore the first steps to sleuthing out your family background and learn how to tell your family story. This is a fun workshop that can tie into history lessons and include a variety of activities, based on grade and teachers' preferences. It can be tailored to upper elementary through middle school.