It’s been a long day, but I’ve promised some new friends that I’d post blog photos tonight, so here are some highlights of my author visit to Lothrop Elementary School in Pittsford, Vermont.
A town hall full of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders greeted me as soon as I arrived. We talked about Spitfire and the American Revolution on Lake Champlain. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a room of kids with more questions! Good ones, too – those Lothrop readers are astute.
After a quick break, I met up with the 5th graders again in their classroom for a second presentation: Encounters of 1609. I read from my new historical novel, Champlain and the Silent One, and we talked about the Champlain Valley as it existed 400 years ago, when French and Native Peoples were meeting one another and encountering one another’s cultures for the first time.
After lunch, I spent some more time with the 6th graders for my historical fiction writing workshop. The kids tried out 18th century games, foods, and tools and brainstormed sensory details about their experiences that they’ll use in writing their own stories later on. After spending the afternoon with these kids, I can assure you that the future of historical fiction is in very good hands.
Before I hit the road, I stopped by one last classroom — this one in the home of a fifth grader whose health concerns have prevented him from attending school lately. Jamee had read Spitfire with his mom and was waiting with it in his lap when I arrived. After we talked about the Revolutionary War and the fur trade in New France, we took time out for a photo with our favorite historical hats — one that I promised Jamee I’d post tonight.
Thanks, Jamee and family, and everyone at Lothrop Elementary, for a fantastic day of reading, writing, history, and learning!
Thanks for sharing your day with us, Kate.
How wonderful for the kids and for you, too!
Cool hats.
I’m assuming all the kids listened to the warning about the hard hard tack?
Were their teeth at risk?
Thanks, Jenny – They were a fantastic group of kids!
Yes, I think so – I’m not sure there were any loose teeth this time!
At one of my library events a couple months ago, a little girl lost a tooth while eating hardtack (it WAS already very loose…) so I always give fair warning now!
They must have soaked the hardtack before they ate it, yes?
Kate, check the LJ homepage, you’ve been spotlighted! 😀
Yep – the LJ powers-that-be actually emailed me last week to let me know and make sure I was okay with it, which of course, I am. Truth be told, it feels a little strange, though…rambling like I usually do and knowing there are new people visiting!
Nah…that would take all the fun out of it!
I think back in the day they lost their teeth early on.
Yay for internet fame! Congrats! You’re the first kidlit writer I’ve seen spotlighted, so this is v. exciting. 😀
Jamee looks quite spiffy with those hats! Sounds like everyone had a great day. Were your palms sweaty at seeing such a large group of inquiring minds?
Wow – is that a beaver fur tophat in your hand? (Those were really expensive!)
No, I’ve actually done groups larger than this, and I really like the 4t-6th grade age range for this presentation – they’re old enough to get it but not so old that they’re “too cool” to listen.
Yes, it is! I searched high and low to find one in a reasonable price range that I could bring to presentations and let kids handle (because where’s the fun, otherwise?). This one doesn’t date back to the 17th century like my book – it’s from the late 19th century – but you get the idea, at least.
Way cool!! What a great visit!
Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing!
It was a fantastic, fantastic day. Thanks, Cindy!
Thanks! It was a great day, so sharing the pictures let me remember all the “moments” all over again.