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2008 Speaking Tour - Program Descriptions
PROGRAM ONE
Title - MAGNETIC
NORTH: A JOURNEY TO THE MAGNETIC NORTH POLE
Program description:
This is a PowerPoint
presentation about Pam Flowers’ solo journey to the Magnetic North
Pole with her dog team from Resolute Bay in Nunavut, Canada to the
Magnetic North Pole.
This program is based
on the book Douggie: the playful pup who became a sled dog hero.
Main points of the
program:
1. For children (and
maybe the rest of us too) – even if you have big problems when you are
young, it is still possible to make a success of your life. Using
patience and training, and never giving up on anyone, we can find the
key to success.
2. Native culture – Pam and her dogs lived in an Inuit community and she
shares stories about life in that culture.
3. The writing process – getting the book from concept to shelf
Audience level:
This program is
primarily for elementary and middle school students. However, it can be
altered to be appropriate for high school level. Length, focus, and
vocabulary are adjusted based on audience age.
Program components:
This program has three
distinct components.
You may choose all or
just one or two of these components but please be aware of the time it
takes to do each component properly.
1. A PowerPoint
presentation of Pam’s journey to the Magnetic North Pole, focusing on
perseverance, the willingness to take a chance, teamwork, and the
refusal to accept failure. (35-45 minutes including Q&A)
2. A grade-appropriate
powerpoint presentation about the writing process and how the book,
Douggie, went from concept to shelf. Students are introduced to terms
such as editor, illustrator, publisher, and how the author works with
these people. Examples of text and art edits are presented and it is
explained why these changes were made. (10-20 minutes)
3. Grand finale
-Through the magic of PowerPoint the book, Douggie, is displayed on
screen while Pam reads an actual copy of the book to the students. This
allows everyone to clearly see the text and illustrations while it is
being read and allows students to read along with Pam. (15 minutes)
Assembly length:
| K
– 3rd |
60
minutes - includes all three components |
Includes Q & A |
|
4th – 6th |
70
minutes - includes all three components |
Includes Q & A |
|
7th – up |
80
minutes - includes all three components |
Includes Q & A |
School Preparation
Kit
Well in advance of
Pam’s visit, schools scheduling any length visit will receive
the same kit. This includes one free, hardbound copy of the books
Douggie: The Playful Pup Who Became A Sled Dog Hero and Big Enough Anna, an expedition description, route map, Anna
poster, poster alerting students to time and place of visit,
illustration of dog
team and sled, relevant resume, and book order form.
Both of Pam Flowers’
books, Alone Across The Arctic and Big Enough Anna
are AR books. Douggie will be released in January so is not yet part of
the AR
program.
Pam arrives at your
school with more then enough books in her van to fill all
orders on the day of her visit. She will ship follow-up orders to your
school and
there are never any charge for shipping.
Fees and Options
Please
contact Pam Flowers
for a fee schedule for your area
Half-day visits:
Programs are offered in
assembly format. Usually during half-day visits,
two assemblies are presented, one for the lower grades and one for the
upper
grades.
More then half but
less then full day visit:
Three assemblies are
presented. Two in the am, one for the lower grades and one for the upper
grades. Lunch is spent going for a short walk around the neighborhood,
school
grounds, gym, or hallways with Pam, a selected number of children with
parent volunteers and/or educators, all in the company of Ellie,
The Appalachian Trail Dog. (This is an optional part of the visit and is
encouraged but not required.) During the afternoon, only one program is
offered – right after lunch.
~~This program is the
most varied author presentation, allows pm kindergartners to attend,
encourages students to exercise, introduces them to Ellie’s Walking
Club, and is by far the most cost-effective program.
Full-day visits: During
the morning two presentations are given. Lunch may be spent walking with
Ellie as described above and remains an optional part of the visit. The
afternoon may be spent presenting two more programs, or classroom
visits, or additional book readings.
***
The right to offer books to students and faculty means that Pam Flowers
will
provide a book order form to the school in advance of her visit. The
order form
should be sent home with students at least a week prior to her visit and
returned
the day before or the day of her visit. Late orders can be filled
following her
visit and special endorsements can still be obtained. Pam will make it
clear to
students that there is a copy of her books in their school library so if
a student
can’t get a book or they just don’t want to buy one but they still want
to read
them, they can find the books at their library. There is no hard sell to
students.
See
Program Two details here.
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