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Student work
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Overview
Suse's presentations develop children's observational and problem solving skills
by creating situations that encourage them to be inventive. Through hands
on projects which use patterning, sorting and shape identification skills,
Suse relates art and mathematics, art and illusion, art and transformation,
and art and the visual world.
In one exercise each student takes letter shapes and turns
them into something entirely new. A "V" tucked between
the two curved sections of a "B" might become a bird,
a striped "C" a cat or an "A" with toenails
and a tongue, an anteater. Such explorations provoke children's
natural problem solving instincts and encourage them to be
creative and go beyond run-of-the-mill thinking. |
School
Program Basics
- Suse's programs are best suited to grades K - 8.
- She can work with small or large groups, from 30 - 200 students.
- Each presentation is 45 minutes to 1 hour long, 30 minutes for
kindergarten.
- Suse can present three programs in one day with twenty to thirty
minutes between each one. In addition she can read a story or conduct
an informal question and answer session with several small groups.
The latter can also be an opportunity to discuss in detail the process
of creating a children's picture book with an art class or interested
students in the higher grades.
- A luncheon is another possibility. The teachers and one student
chosen by lottery from each class can meet for lunch with Suse and
ask their class's questions. It will help the discourse if the questions
have been written down beforehand.
- An after-school book signing or "meet the author" tea are successful
ways to end her programs.
- Suse suggests there be a facilitator available during the day
of her visit to help with last minute details.
School
Program Description
The following programs are suitable for presentation
to large or small groups. These programs have been customized for
a particular age range so it's best to group the students by grade
level. It is Suse's preference to talk to the kindergarten separately.
The Alphabatics, Nanta's Lion and Elephant On Board
programs can be adapted for them.
Alphabatics
(click here to see a page from the book)
For
grades 1 - 3. In Alphabatics each letter of the alphabet is
colorfully transformed into something that begins with that
letter. Suse shares with her audience the excitement of publishing
this, her first book, and winning a Caldecott Honor. Using
slides, she shows the sources of her ideas, the steps involved
in creating this book, and the use of the airbrush to paint
the illustrations. If the group is small enough, Suse helps
the children create their own pictures using the shape of a
letter as a basis for the shape of an animal or bird. For large
groups the audience participates in this drawing process by
guiding Suse as she turns letter shapes into other images.
Return to the overview to see an additional
example of student work.
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Student work
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Sea Shapes
(click here to see a page from the book)
For grades 2 - 5. In Sea Shapes, basic shapes transform into
a variety of sea creatures. Suse shows how she researched this book
and developed her illustrations. She also demonstrates the paper collage
techniques used for the art work. If she is working with a small group,
each student has an opportunity to create his or her own art work
by looking at slides of sea life to discover and draw the shapes they
contain. For large groups individual projects are impractical. Instead
Suse solicits audience participation to collectively direct the creation
of a sea life mural.
Nanta’s
Lion
(click here to see a page from the book)
For grades 3 - 5. Suse shows children how her idea for Nanta's
Lion developed. She talks about her research trips to New York and
her introduction to Sanette Brown, the second grader who became her
model for Nanta. The illustrations for Nanta's Lion were drawn in
Suse's Macintosh computer. Utilizing the computer allowed her to establish
die-cut lines for each page and to quickly test many color combinations.
The resulting color dummy book was then transmitted to her publisher
by modem. This process is documented with slides which show how the
computer was used to facilitate the creation of this book.
Elephants on
Board
(click here to see a page from the
book)
For grades 1 - 3. This is a playful talk about a playful tale.
A dozen elephants are traveling to the circus when their bus gets
a flat tire near a construction site. The heavyweight show-stoppers
decide to commandeer a vehicle to complete the journey. But the loader
unloads them, the mixer flings them to the ground, and they break
the cherry picker and the crane.
Suse's presentation is the inside scoop on how she met these elephants
and decided to tell their story. As she guides her audience through
the process of completing this picture book, she shares the fun of
dreaming up the elephant's outfits and her adventures in photographing
construction equipment and eventually finding the perfect truck to
star in her book. The program ends with the audience helping Suse
draw the elephants in new roles and costumes as "Community Helpers."
For
Grades 6 - 8
This program is 1 hr. long
Although Suse's books are for young children, the process of their
creation is a pertinent subject for older students. Suse shares her
experiences creating and selling art work and her insights into the
business of publishing and marketing a picture book. The use of the
computer in the creation and promotion of her books is a major part
of her presentation. She also traces her own development as an artist
and how that might relate to the aspirations and goals of many in
her audience.
When the group has 30 students or less, each student can study Suse's
artwork and preparatory materials. Such a hands-on opportunity gives
them a close look at the bookmaking process.
For
Teachers
Suse also offers presentations for teachers. Many of her books take
a well known object or abstraction and turn it into something quite
different. In these seminars she explores the ideas fundamental to
her books and shows how they can be developed into practical classroom
activities. When there is interest, Suse includes information about
the various ways she colors paper and creates her illustrations.
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Preparing
Your Students
- Reading: All students should be familiar with Suse's books.
She has found that the more prepared the students are, the more
they get out of the program. Start reading her books at least two
weeks before the visit. Be sure to include the book she will be
discussing with your class.
- Discussion: Suse will write a letter to each class introducing
herself. Read this to the children and discuss what an author/illustrator
does.
- Questions: Suse welcomes any questions. Students who have
been introduced to her books prior to her coming often have many.
- Projects: Projects pertaining to Suse's books are not a
necessary ingredient for a successful visit, but they do generate
student enthusiasm. Activity sheets/teaching ideas are available
on Suse's website if you need some suggestions.
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Preparing
Teachers
In some schools, the school librarian reads Suse's books to the students.
It is helpful if the teachers whose students are attending her program,
are also familiar with her books.
Suse recommends that each teacher be given:
- a copy of her school programs
- a copy of her brochure
- Suse's letter to the students
- the activity sheets for the books Suse will be talking about
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Equipment
- Kodak carousel slide projector and screen. It is important
to check that the slide projector is in running order the day before
Suse's visit. Have a spare bulb handy.
- A large movable blackboard/tackboard (the kind on wheels).
Most schools have these. Suse finds it works best when used as
an easel on which to tack or tape drawing paper. If you do not
have
a movable blackboard, a wall or a cafeteria table on end will sometimes
work. The point is to find a surface that will hold a 4 or 5
foot piece of paper. Most easels are too small for large groups
of students to adequately see.
- A roll of white art paper Most school art rooms have these
rolls of paper. High quality is not necessary, white or a light
color is. Suse will need two sheets for each presentation. Each
sheet should be 4 or 5 feet long by 30 inches high (approximate
measurement). Suse draws big pictures so that all the students in
large groups can see what she's doing!
- Tape and scissors To hang and cut art paper.
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Arrangements
Fee
$1500 per day plus expenses
$1200 per day for two or more full days plus expenses
Teacher workshops and family programs are also available at negotiable
rates
If a visit is more than a three hour drive from San Diego, Suse
prefers school visits of two or more days. In both March and April
she spends two weeks doing school visits on the east coast. If a
visit can be scheduled during those times, the travel expense can
be shared. Suse can also schedule blocks of time in other areas of
the country.
Bonus
In communities where Suse has three or more days of school visits,
she offers, free of charge, a family evening.
Overnight stays
A list of hotel/motel recommendations in your area would be quite
helpful. Suse (a non-smoker) is also willing to stay in private homes
as long as she has her own room.
Travel Arrangements
Suse will arrange air travel arrangements through her travel agent.
Letters of Agreement
When it is agreed that Suse will be visiting your school, she would
like a letter of agreement, listing dates, fee agreed upon, and what
she is to do.
Book Sales and Autographing
An author visit is a wonderful opportunity for each child to have
a book. Book sales are most successful when an order form is sent
home with the students a few weeks prior to Suse's visit.
Books may be ordered through Booksense.com or the publisher at least six to eight
weeks in advance. Order the books
so you have time to process them and set up a display. This gives
your teachers plenty of time to acquaint their classes with Suse's
books.
All books not sold are returnable to the publisher.
Suse is happy to autograph books and to draw pictures in them. Each
student should have a slip of paper with his or her name in the book
to be autographed. This saves a lot of time.
Publicity
Set up a display of Suse's books in the library and post
the date she will be visiting your school. She will provide a photograph
and promotional materials if you wish them.
Newspaper publicity is also a good idea.
- It alerts your community to the exposure you're getting in the
arts.
- If PTO money is involved, an article lets them know how their
money is being used.
- It promotes family involvement and interest in the program.
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Schedule
an Author Appearance
To make arrangements or if you have questions about Suse's program,
please contact Suse.
Ordering
Books
You may order books from your local book store using the website
www.booksense.com.
Search on Suse MacDonald at Booksense to see a list of all her books,
or go to the Suse's Books page of this site
and click on the link by the book you want to order to go directly
to that
page
on
the
Booksense
site.
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