Help with writing talk please!

[Britchic]

Hi everyone,

I've written a few picture books, and I'm doing a school visit in a couple of weeks (my first since before COVID!).

I'm confident with activities and talking to the younger years, but I've also been asked to do a talk to years 3-6, which I find more nerve-wracking. I have done a couple of talks to this age group in the past - I tend to do a presentation about being an author, with a quiz at the end, but I'd really like to get the kids engaged in an activity (which is hard with 100 or so in one room!) - something writing / publishing related.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what I could ask them to do?
Thank you so much in advance!

How about a whole group story?

Break a story down into the basic parts and ask the children for suggestions.

Ask for a lead character. Child, adult, robot, monster, fish, whatever.

If they're a grown up thing, what job? Where do they live in? What characteristics?

Then setting. What's the world around them like?

Something happens to them that gives them a problem to overcome. Any ideas?

What are the consequences of that problem?

How does the main character overcome that problem?

You would need to be a bit flexible and think on your feet, but with a lot of children making suggestions you're bound to get a few sensible and useful ones to choose from. Write down the basics then 'tell' the story to the children.

They can illustrate parts after your visit.
Maybe even act it out.

Thank you Mysterian - that's a great idea! x