Adventure Writing Assembly & Workshops
Peter takes students on adventures around the world and shows them the passion that lies at the heart of travel and writing. In this lively multimedia adventure presentation he will take children into cloud-forested jungles to look for Inca treasure, up Mayan and Aztec temple walls, into the Arctic world of Eskimos and polar bears, out to prehistoric early human excavations in East Africa, down historic rivers and waterways, and deep into the history and foreign cultures studied in elementary and middle school. His Adventure Assembly helps children understand the process of a writer - researching topics, collecting journals, and perfecting the writer's craft. Optional follow-up writing workshops and peer critique residencies help teachers and students bring adventure to the page as they perfect their writing skills.
For same Adventure Presentation with more of a focus on the Hudson River see Hudson River Presentation.
*****
When I am at one school for a day, I can speak to a large
audience (Adventure Presentation), from 100-400
students, grades 1-2, 3-6 or 7-8, or any combination
of those.This assembly requires a cafeteria, gym or auditorium,
and takes a good solid hour (for the little guys I often
shorten it to 50 minutes). I need a room that can
get dark and quiet (Please, no skylights! No blowers!).
During the presentation, I will show slides and
take students on many adventures and to many countries, or I can focus mostly on the Hudson River, taking kids down one of America's great rivers, telling
stories along the way. (If within driving distance
of my home in Vermont, I'll bring my canoe!) See
Hudson River Presentation.
Contact
Me for An Author Visit
Book
Signing Info
Follow-up
Workshop(s)
After the assembly I usually need about a half hour to
put my gear away and then grab another bag of writing
and journal materials in order to either continue
in the same space or go to a smaller and more intimate
space, like a library, where I can meet 25 to 100 students
for one or two writing workshops (I've done these "workshops"
as mini assemblies, too, but smaller groups work best,
and a library is always better than the cafeteria or a
gym).
After or between workshops, I can sign books and eat lunch,
drink coffee, whatever.
The workshops are not workshops in the strict sense
of the word.
My goal in this 50- to 60-minute session,
aside from answering specific questions, is to inspire
young writers to embark upon the writing process. "Okay,"
I'll tell students, "you've just seen one adventure, but
now let's talk about the long and sometimes laborious and
yet rewarding and exciting process of getting from an idea
to a book, a three-year process of research, journal-keeping,
drafting, revisions, and publication." In this
session I'll cover details about research, which is another
word for EXPLORATION. I'll talk about he pitfalls
of the internet and the joys of interviewing experts. I
will talk about my own problems as a reader and writer
when I was young, and how I overcame those problems. I'll
also talk in depth about various forms of journal-keeping.
As with the assembly, I try to convey information through
stories, often now with a focus on my Amazon travels.
Contact for Book Signing
Assembly
Only
Some schools are so large they need assemblies without workshops.
This can be two or even three assemblies in a day.
When I travel beyond the Northeast, and when I can't bring
my 18-foot canoe and all my paddling gear, I like to do
one assembly at one school in the morning and then go to
another school in the afternoon for a second assembly.
This has worked well in Texas and other states far from
home. To make it worth the long-distance travel,
however, I like to have at least four days of school visits
in any one area (which would be 8 assemblies, or two assemblies
per day).
Schools
far away: Transportation, food and lodging in addition
to daily fee.
Schools
within driving distance: lodging in addition to
daily fee.
SEE
WHAT A Hudson River Paper SAYs ABOUT PETER'S SCHOOL VISIT
Cold
Spring, NY
Contract & Book
Signing Forms
 Hudson
River Presentation&
study guide
 The Lost Treasure of Captain Kidd: Classroom Activities, Writing exercises, discussion questions
When
it downloads onto your computer, it will be called
"Photos
From A Presentation."
Book
Sales & Signings
If
you are interested in having me visit your school, please
share this page with your principal and teachers.
For
more information about signings and ordering books for your
school
please
contact Peter at 802-233-5253 or peter's email
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