Saturday, September 8, 2012

Melbourne Book Week Part II.

One of the big concepts for kids to learn is that stories, all stories, have BME. Not Big Mamma Elephants or Brown Moles Escaping or even Blue Metered Elves. No.
BEGINNING  MIDDLE  END
& over the week we had lots of fun creating quick stories with different characters (B), problems to resolve (M), & outcomes (E).





We talked about THINGS & how THINGS look. & what makes a THING, a THING & not something else. Does a THING need to look realistic for us to believe it's that THING.
There was a lot of THINGING going on!







& had to squeeze in some extra lunchtime sessions to fill all the requests for THINGS we couldn't fit into normal time.


I would like to say a huge thank you to Gail Moore, Librarian General at Mt Eliza primary school for not only hosting this years event but also for the countless giggles she provided to support my lame humour. Libraries are so important in our schools & Libraries without Librarians are like taps without water.
Merilyn Haynes, Principal, for the loan of her lap... TOP! without which the week would have been very analogue.
All the staff who attended sessions during the week.


& lastly the students, from the wee Preps to the not so wee Grade sixes. You made the week the    
FUNNEST THING!




Monday, September 3, 2012

Aargh! Shiver me timbers.


Pirate girls are Da Bomb!

Melbourne Book Week. Part I.

Last week I was lucky enough to spend my days with the Students from Mt Eliza Primary school as part of Melbourne Book Week; & I can say 'lucky' in complete honesty as the students were great ambassadors for the school, I only had to beat one child & she won.


 We had a truck load of fun reading the rough script & dummy for 'Benny & The Rats', which had better sell or there'll be an angry posse of kids brandishing pitchforks & flaming torches outside my studio. 'Benny' was a big hit with the kids, many of them drawing Benny, The Jazz Rats & Sally Stardust. & lots of requests for signed sketches too.



             Made up some crazy stories on the spot with a large dose of stupidness & a dash of fear...





& some not so stupid stories, like The gingerbread Man



OK. Just a bit stupid.