Natural Inspirations
30 or 60 minutes

Grades 3-12
15-200 students

Rocks Rock
30 or 60 minutes

Grades 1-6
15-200 students

Outdoor Investigations
1-3 hours

Grades 3-12
30 students




Earth Shakes
&
Earthquakes
30 minutes

Grades 4-12
30-200 students

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

After a look at my writing process, "From Funky Thing to Finished Product," students are encouraged to give it a try. Practicing descriptive writing with exercises that professional writers use, students will be inspired to find their own voice!  

Trees and snails that eat rocks?  Focused on the importance of minerals and the scientific process, this presentation looks at two of my upcoming articles for Highlights for Kids magazine. An optional "Painting with Rocks" activity is available for small groups (requires 60 minutes).


Exploring your schoolyard (or other natural area), students take an in-depth look at nature journaling. Exploring the world through magnifiers, they will practice their observation skills and using literary devices (such as metaphors, alliteration and onomatopoeia), they will practice their writing skills.  


Taking a look at the research and writing process for a non-fiction book, students will examine my upcoming Hi-Lo book, Surviving and Earthquake. We'll examine the use of an outline, hear earthquake stories that did not make it into the book and learn just what it is like to work with an editor. Students will also practice their earthquake survival skills.

    
    



Reading, Writing & the Environment
3 to 6 hours





Alabama's Earth: Science you can put your hands on   
6 hours

TEACHER WORKSHOPS


Integrate reading and writing with hands-on science.  Learn to launch inquiry science investigations with picture books, get tips on fun science vocabulary games and discover the joy of teaching nature journaling to improve both observation and writing skills.

Discover the amazing geology of Alabama. Receive an Alabama rock and fossil set, learn kinesthetic methods for teaching science, make plate puzzles and get a glimpse of literature to support the study of earth sciences. Get hooked on reading the stories written in the stone all around you.