Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 9

SCHOOL VISITS SOME TIPS AND IDEAS TO MAKE THE MOST OF AN AUTHOR VISIT ✓ Start to read one of Belinda’s books as a class, either as a readaloud or individually during quiet reading time. Discuss as a group the cover, the title, and the storyline. ✓ Stick up posters around the school promoting the author visit to get students’ attention: email [email protected] to request some! ✓ Promote the visit in the School Newsletter so the school community can be involved as well. ✓ Ask students to paint or draw one of the scenes from the book. How do they imagine it would look? Then create a display in the library or classroom of the artwork the students have done. ✓ Perhaps the students could enact a scene from the book. What scene would they choose? Can they adapt it for the stage? ✓ Discuss as a class some of the questions they might like to ask the author. They don’t just have to be about the books – they can ask Belinda for tips on writing or how to overcome writer’s block. ✓ Does the book mention food? Consider making a special afternoon tea for Belinda – the recipe for Poppy’s Lemon Cake in The Forgotten Pearl is a big hit! INVITE BELINDA MURRELL TO YOUR SCHOOL! For a creative writer’s workshop, covering text research, plot development, characterisation and writing exercises, contact Belinda at: [email protected] For a free, briefer author talk during selected touring weeks throughout the year, contact: [email protected] randomhouse.com.au/teachers 9