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: A data projector and screen.

Storytelling

Tell me a Story with Michelle Worthington

This interactive storytelling session is designed for prep to Grade 2 author visits for students to find out about 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 

Maximum Size: none

Technology required: none

Writing Workshops

Workshop 1: Dreaming with Eyes Open Book Week Workshop

Children will be transported on an exciting adventure and through the magic of storytelling, will meet a host of interesting book characters bought to life. Inspired by the chapter book series Sass and Traz Save the Library, students will create their own characters as part of this story structure writing workshop. Learn how to create a little storytelling magic! 

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

Target Audience: Prep to Grade 6

Time: 60 minutes

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

Technology required: A data projector and screen

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Workshop 2: Fairytale Fun Story Structure Strategies 

This writing workshop combines fairy tale themes and improvised storytelling with creative writing. Students will explore the elements of fairy tales and narratives, as they follow the prompts inspired by Trolls Tall Tales, Hootie The Cutie and Johnny’s Beard. Settings, good and bad characters, plots, problems and imaginative items will be woven into twisted fairy tales and fables. Through oral storytelling and creative writing, they will bring their story to life.

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

Target Audience: Grade 3 to Grade 6

Time: 60 minutes

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

Technology required: A data projector and screen

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 help children create characters, describe settings, plot an exciting story and start making their very own book. 

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

Target Audience: Prep to Grade 2

Time: 30 minutes

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

Technology required: A data projector and screen

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

Workshop 4: Sizzling Story Starters and Creating Cool Characters

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. This workshop combines writing and performing arts to engage children in the art of story creation inspired and use 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 children to tell a story that reveals something about themselves.

Curriculum link: NAPLAN Adventure/Fantasy/ Hero’s Journey – Focus on plotting/planning an adventure style story, developing main characters and creating interesting plots.

Time: 60 minutes

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

Technology required: A data projector and screen

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.
Business Basics – setting up and running a small business – marketing and promotion – life skills
Target Audience: Grade 10 to Grade 12
Time: 60 minutes
Maximum Size: unlimited
Technology required: A data projector and screen