Based on the book Norris and Twig

Ages 5-8 (K -Grade 3)

30 - 45  minute presentation

This engaging presentation, based on the children’s book Norris and Twig, is designed for students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. It introduces young learners to the important concepts of bullying, friendship, and self-confidence through an age-appropriate and heartwarming story. Students will follow the journey of Norris, a kind-hearted firefly, and Twig, a mean-spirited dragonfly, as they discover valuable lessons about how to treat others, be kind, and let their light shine.

Through guided questions, interactive group activities, and movement-based games, students will learn to identify bullying behavior, understand how bullying affects people, and explore what it means to have positive self-esteem. The presentation encourages children to think about their actions and feelings while building important social-emotional skills.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify Bullying Behavior: Students will learn to recognize the signs of bullying and understand how it can make others feel sad, scared, or hurt.

2. Understand Friendship: Students will explore what makes a good friend and how to show kindness and care to others.

3. Build Positive Self-Confidence: Students will learn the importance of believing in themselves and standing up for themselves and others, just like Norris when he let his light shine brightly.

4. Engage in Group Activities: Students will participate in movement-based activities and games to reinforce the lessons of the story, encouraging teamwork and interaction.

5. Develop Emotional Awareness: Through discussion and reflection, students will develop greater emotional awareness and learn how to express their feelings in a healthy way.

Common Core Alignment:

This presentation aligns with the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts for Kindergarten through 2nd grade, focusing on foundational literacy, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. By participating in this presentation, students will work on:

• Comprehension Skills: Asking and answering questions about key details in the text, such as how Norris and Twig behaved and why.

• Retelling Stories: Recalling the main events and lessons from Norris and Twig, helping to improve memory and narrative understanding.

• Distinguishing Differences in Texts: Understanding the differences between books that tell stories (like Norris and Twig) and informational books, building an early awareness of genre and purpose in literature.

Through these interactive and foundational literacy activities, students will strengthen both their comprehension and social-emotional learning skills in an engaging and supportive environment.

Based on the book The Magic Chest: Sands of Time

Ages 8-10 (Grades 3-5)

45 min.-1  hour presentation

This engaging presentation introduces students to the exciting world of storytelling using The Magic Chest: Sands of Time. Students will learn about the author, hear an excerpt from the book, and explore key storytelling concepts such as characters, setting, and plot. Through lively discussion and interactive examples from The Magic Chest, students will gain a deeper understanding of how these elements work together to build a story.

The presentation includes a Q&A session, encouraging students to ask and answer questions, and culminates in a fun, collaborative group activity—a story-building game. This activity allows students to apply their knowledge by selecting characters, settings, and plot points to create their own stories. The presentation is designed to inspire creativity and reinforce essential storytelling skills in an interactive and age-appropriate format.

Learning Objectives:

1. Students will be able to identify and describe the key elements of a story—character, setting, and plot—using examples from The Magic Chest: Sands of Time.

2. Students will demonstrate their understanding of story structure by actively participating in a group activity to build a narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

3. Students will practice collaborative discussion skills by asking and answering questions related to story elements, fostering their ability to express ideas clearly and listen to others.

Common Core English Language Arts Skills

This presentation aligns with Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards for grades 3-5. By participating, students will practice essential skills such as:

• Reading Literature (RL.3-5.3): Students will describe characters, settings, and major events in a story using details from the text.

• Speaking and Listening (SL.3-5.1): Students will engage in collaborative discussions, asking and answering questions to deepen their understanding of story elements.

• Writing (W.3-5.3): Students will practice writing narratives that establish a situation, introduce a narrator and characters, and sequence events logically, using dialogue and descriptive details to enhance the story.

• Language (L.3-5.5): Students will use grade-appropriate language and vocabulary to discuss and write about story elements.

Through these activities, students will develop both their reading comprehension and narrative writing skills while engaging in creative and critical thinking.