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Patricia NewmanPatricia Newman
Sibert Honor Children's Book Author & Environmentalist
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The “Wow!” Factor: Nonfiction, Research & School Visits

January 22, 2010 Book Talks, School Visits, Speaking engagements, The Process 1 Comment

Nonfiction and school visits go together like peanut butter and jelly. Trains and aircraft carriers were the main topics of the day at my recent visit to Mather Heights Elementary School in Sacramento, California.

Jingle the Brass (trains) and Nugget on the Flight Deck (fighter pilots and aircraft carriers) required months of research. I labored over library books, Internet sites, and expert interviews searching for the most fascinating facts for my readers. When I began writing the manuscripts, I discovered I not only had enough material for my picture books, I had enough for the definitive works on trains and carriers!

That’s where school visits come in! Students are treated to many of the delights that I could not include in my books. For instance, when I read Jingle the Brass I demonstrate how two trains share one railroad track through a skit in which the children play the parts of train cars, tunnels and semaphores. And a couple of pages in Jingle the Brass provide a perfect introduction to the science behind steam engines.

With Nugget on the Flight Deck, we figure out the size of a carrier in comparison to objects with which students are more familiar. For example six third graders equal the weight of one link in the anchor chain. I demonstrate how a fighter pilot keeps track of the position of enemy planes flying around him. One student plays the part of the pilot and other students play the part of bogeys. We do head math problems involving the number of TVs on a carrier and the number of meals served every day. We also do a few spatial relationship problems, demonstrating a hi yo-yo dogfight move with paper airplanes.

Whether you are an author or a teacher, nonfiction is an excellent way to help students make connections to the real world. If I hear the students say, “Wow!” I know the hours of research were worth it.

Tags: School Visits
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  • Alexis O'Neill
    · Reply

    January 22, 2010 at 9:39 AM

    Patricia – Your interactive assemblies sound terrific! I love how you get kids up in front to demonstrate concepts. I'd love to see you in action someday!
    Cheers,
    ALEXIS
    SCBWI Columnist: The Truth About School Visits

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  • Home
  • Books
    • Sharks Unhooked: The Adventures of Cristina Zenato, Underwater Ranger
    • Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea
    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
    • QuickReads Fluency Library
    • Books for English language-learners
    • Writers write all kinds of things
  • Author Visit Programs
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
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  • Educator Resources
    • STEM + Literacy Activities
    • Teacher Guides
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
    • LitLinks
    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
  • Writer Resources
    • Writing Classes
    • Manuscript or Proposal Critiques
    • How I got my start
  • Who is Patricia Newman?
  • Contact
    • Stay In Touch
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
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