Student imaginations run wild when they learn that there is a hungry monster living under their couch. Armed with the poetic devices of simile and repetition, they will create a narrative poem describing their first encounter with the fearsome creature.

It’s not often you get full permission to lie, but in this playful workshop fibbing is encouraged! Students are introduced to the humorous poem Fried Lies by Harry Laing, an acclaimed children’s writer, poet and comedic performer based in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. After a hilariously dishonest ideation session, students use descriptive imagery and humour to cook up their own tall tales, writing poems inspired by Fried Lies.

In this program students will delve into letters inspired by the picture book The Day the Crayons Quit. Students will bring objects from their daily lives to life by creating unique characters, imagining daily activities, and drafting dialogue. As students work through the writing process they will role play interviews and create the content for various written texts including letters. Secret Life of Stuff is a fun and engaging way to explore character creation!

Stirring a base of inspiration, with a cup of opinions and a pinch of giggles, students explore poems that are both hilarious and informative in this program based on food, glorious food. During these workshops students will practice playful activities using alliteration, similes, rhyming and verb choices as they add their own flavour and spices to food-themed poetry. Students will plan, create and share three poems celebrating their fantastic imaginative food orders.

In this workshop, students are introduced to the fantastical picture book called the Incredible Freedom Machines by Kirli Saunders, a proud Gunai woman with ties to the Yuin, Gundungurra, Gadigal and Biripi peoples, Indigenous to Australia. Students examine their ideas of freedom, and write a one stanza poem about their very own freedom machine. The students explore what their machines look like, how it moves and where it would take them. This workshop produces heart-warming and surprising poetry full of delight and wonder. 

This workshop is ideal for a mixed ability classroom.

Calling all young ghost hunters and master storytellers! Students unleash their imagination as they create spooky stories and characters that will give you goosebumps! Students will learn how to build suspense, conjure eerie settings, and bring their characters to life.

In this workshop students will explore the artworks of contemporary Australian artists including Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, using their quirky and colourful sculptures to inspire poetry. Students will learn to unpack and decribe visual art and expand their vocabulary. Students will write their own poems bringing art to life by reimagining the stories and characters behind the works.