Large Group Presentation

What’s the Story with Michelle Worthington

This session is designed for medium to large groups and can be run in school halls, libraries or classrooms. The powerpoint presentation has been designed to introduce the student to Michelle Worthington and her books, what it’s like to be an author, how she comes up with her ideas, and even what her boys think about getting picked up from school when their mum is dressed up as a fairy!

Time: 30 to 60 minutes

Maximum Size: none

Technology required for a PowerPoint Presentation.

Parent Presentation

As an international award-winning children’s author and mother of three boys, Michelle shares practical strategies tailored to ignite your child’s passion for literacy. Speaking from personal experience, her expert guidance equips parents with hands-on techniques to help them foster a love for reading and writing in their children. Discover creative activities, engaging tips, and proven methods to make books and storytelling an enjoyable pastime and an alternative to screen time. There is also a Q and A session included to initiate helpful dialogue between participants and to share their own experiences.Time: 30 to 60 minutes

Target audience: Caregivers

Maximum Size: unlimited

Technology required for a PowerPoint Presentation. 

Storytelling

Interactive Storytelling Sessions as Fairy Belle, the Book Fairy

Fairy Belle’s interactive storytelling sessions transport children to imaginative worlds where they can join her on thrilling adventures, meet unforgettable characters, and learn valuable life lessons.

Target audience: Pre-Prep to Grade 1

Time: 30 minutes

Maximum Size: none

Technology required: none

Poetry Incursion: You're a Poet and You Don't Know It

This engaging session invites primary school students to discover the magic of poetry through interactive activities and Michelle’s captivating books that are available as class sets.

Michelle introduces the concept of poetry with examples from her books “There’s an Alien in my Pocket” for younger grades and “Magpies, Meat Pies, and Mallee Skies” for older students.

Prep to Grade 2 students engage in a hands-on creative writing activity titled “Pocket Poems,” where they craft simple yet magical poems inspired by everyday objects using oral storytelling. In a collaborative writing exercise, all students come together to create a “Community Poem,” pooling their creative talents to craft a masterpiece reflective of their collective imagination and unity.

Grade 3 to Grade 6 students delve into the deeper themes and poetic devices found in “Magpies, Meat Pies, and Mallee Skies.” Through analysis and discussion, they uncover the power of language and imagery in conveying emotions and stories. Michelle offers insights into her writing process and encourages students to continue exploring their creativity through poetry and storytelling by writing their own poem in a style of their choosing.

Interactive Reading Session: “There’s an Alien in my Pocket” (Prep to Grade 2)

A. Read-aloud session with Michelle Worthington

B. Discussion on rhymes, rhythm, and imaginative language

C. Encouragement for students to participate in reading aloud and identifying poetic elements

Poetry Analysis: “Magpies, Meat Pies, and Mallee Skies” (Grade 3 to Grade 6)

A. Discussion on the themes and poetic devices used in the book

B. Analysis of structure, imagery, and language

C. Encouragement for students to explore deeper meanings and interpretations

Target Audience: Primary School, Middle School

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required for a PowerPoint presentation

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Writing Workshops

Since the dawn of time, humans have told stories to each other – powerful stories about their life experiences and funny stories to entertain their friends and family. These workshops combine writing and performing arts to engage children in the art of story creation inspired by and using picture books as springboards for developing original and interesting innovations.

Because these stories have similar patterns and make use of repetition and rhyme, the student’s innovations will lend themselves easily to inspire students to tell a story that reveals something about themselves. Bespoke workshops can be created on request at no extra charge.

Workshop 1: Australian Animals 

Children will be transported on an exciting adventure through the Australian bush, will meet a host of interesting animal characters bought to life. Inspired by her picture books, students will create their own characters with a focus on differentiation and description.

Curriculum Link: Narratives – Focus on storytelling and oral language development, as well as developing a character and structuring a simple narrative plot.

Target Audience: Primary School

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available Technology required for a PowerPoint presentation

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Workshop 2: Build your own story with Ruby’s Repair Cafe

This writing workshop combines prompted and improvised storytelling with creative writing. Students will explore the elements of narrative text, as they follow the prompts inspired by Michelle’s award-winning picture book, Ruby’s Repair Cafe. Settings, good and bad characters, plots, problems and imagination will be discussed in a practical framework. Through oral storytelling and/or creative writing, they will brainstorm an outline of their own story idea.

Curriculum Link: Focus on generating original ideas and introducing the essential elements of narratives – setting/character/plot

Target Audience: Primary School

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required for a PowerPoint presentation

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Workshop 3: It’s a Pirate Party

What would happen if you found a chest of interesting objects and treasures? What clues might these things give you about the pirate who owns this bag? We read two different pirate stories, The Pink Pirate and The World’s Worst Pirate to encourage students to talk about characters, describe settings, and brainstorm a plot for their own pirate story. Students can dress up as pirates.

Curriculum Link – Essential elements of narrative writing – Focus on developing characters/plots through story mapping

Target Audience: Primary School

Time: 45 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required for a PowerPoint presentation Drawing/Writing

Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Workshop 4: For Real Life

Throughout the workshop, students will engage in a series of engaging activities and exercises aimed at sparking their imagination and honing their writing skills. From brainstorming sessions to character development exercises, participants will learn how to craft compelling stories rooted in their own experiences. Using family as the central theme, students will explore topics such as heritage, traditions, relationships, and personal anecdotes. They will learn how to weave these elements into their writing, creating authentic and relatable characters and settings.

Curriculum Link – Essential elements of narrative writing – Focus on developing characters/plots through story mapping

Target Audience: Middle School, Secondary School

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required for a PowerPoint presentation Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Workshop 5: Creative Business Basics

Hear from international award-winning author and businesswoman Michelle Worthington as she shares her journey to starting her own successful creative business. Students will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions about what it takes to be an Australian entrepreneur and founder of a startup. Topics covered include idea generation, marketing and promotion, time management and resilience techniques.

Target Audience: Secondary School

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: unlimited

Technology required for a PowerPoint presentation