Story Writing Workshops for Grades 1-6 in Edmonton, Alberta
In these 90 minute workshops, local author and illustrator Darren Lebeuf works with classes to create a mini picture book, starting from the initial inspiration, all the way to seeing their story come to life through illustrations. Students examine the writing process, character and setting, story structures, conflicts and resolutions, how text and illustrations work together, and how ideas can be communicated through illustrations. This is a fun, engaging, and often fast-paced workshop where students are encouraged to use their imaginations, and collectively choose where a story will take them. The finished story is likely to be rough and incomplete, but the journey to get there will be fun and educational! After the workshop, classes will receive a finished, illustrated print from one of the pages of their story.
Workshop Summary:
Introduction (10min)
A fun tour through Darren’s work as an author and illustrator, including some the very first drafts and initial sketches of his award-winning publications, personal illustration projects, and some of the tools and techniques used as an artist
What is a Picture Book? (10min)
How many pages should a book be? What do different stories look like? What are some of the major components of a picture book?
The Concept (10min)
As a group, we come up with the initial idea for the story (group brainstorm, starting with a improv-style prompt; character(s), setting, activity)
Starting With the End in Mind (10min)
Once we agree on the initial concept of the story, we jump right to the end. What will the main character learn? What will they achieve? How will they resolve their conflict? This may change as we work through the story, but it will act as the perfect guidepost to get started.
The Roadmap (20min)
Now that we have the idea for the story, and we already know where it is going, all we have to do is decide how to get there. Using a typical picture book structure, we decide what interesting, fun, amazing things needs to happen in order to get from the beginning to the end.
Putting it All Together (10min)
By now we likely have more ideas than we know what to do with, so it is time to cut, edit, arrange, and rearrange until we end up with something that feels cohesive, is fun, and has a great ending.
To Rhyme, or Not to Rhyme (10min)
If time permits, we can start thinking about the text. Do the verses rhyme? Would longer form text work better with this story? Do the characters have dialogue? Who is telling the story? Is it written in the first person, second person, or third person? Although there will not be nearly enough time to write out the whole story, this is a great introduction to different ways of communicating a story.
Illustration 101 / Q&A (10min)
It has no doubt been a wild ride up to this point, and now it’s time to slow down again. With the story planned out and a rough idea of text, the class gets to choose a page of the book to watch Darren illustrate. Just like the story, students see how an illustration starts with a rough outline, as Darren talks through the process of creating a finished drawing. This is also an opportunity for students to ask any questions about writing, illustrating, or anything else related to the workshop.
What Happens Next?
Perhaps the most exciting part of the workshop for the students is seeing their story come to life! After the workshop, classes receive a finished drawing from the story that they created. In cases where multiple classes within the same school have booked workshops, there is also an opportunity for a follow-up visit to see the stories that other grades and classes came up with.
Some classroom examples:
What teachers are saying:
“Over the past few years, I’ve found it harder and harder to get my grade 3 students interested in writing. Darren Lebeuf’s workshop, Let’s Write a Story’, was an engaging experience for everyone, including my reluctant writers! The students were able to see the initial illustrations and rough drafts of his published books. They learned how an author comes up with ideas and makes a plan for a story. While brainstorming ideas together, every child had the opportunity to participate and be heard. We can’t wait to invite Mr. Lebeuf back to our classroom!”
“I loved seeing the students being engaged in learning something new and exciting-which was also relevant to them! The students were so excited about this and to see the finished page you sent!”
“Your workshop was a great introduction to story writing for my class. You went through the steps really thoroughly and gave them a good starting point of what it takes to write a good story. Thank you so much for coming to my class to teach them about writing a story! The kids were very engaged and excited when I showed them the final result of the story that we created together. Thank you so much for coming!!”
About Darren:
Darren Lebeuf is an Edmonton based author and illustrator. His books have received awards and accolades from the Ontario Arts Council, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Ontario Library Association, and the American Library Association. He has been working with international educational institutions as a workshop leader and illustrator for over 10 years. This year, two of his books will be appearing as part of the McDonald's Happy Meal program.
How to Book:
If this sounds like a great activity to share with your students, or if you have any questions, click here:
FAQ
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Having the class arranged facing a the front of the room. Students do not need any materials for the workshop, although they are invited to draw along if they wish.
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Schools often book 3-12 months in advance. Click here to inquire about availability.
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At minimum, all that is required is a white board and some markers.
If your classroom is equipped with a smartboard, Darren will connect a drawing tablet to the screen.
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The workshops work best with a standard class size, so combining classes is not recommended, however there is a discount for booking multiple classes within one school.
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This workshop is fun, and often fast paced, and it is not uncommon for students to get excited. Darren will get the class back on track if things get derailed, but if any students are too disruptive then they may need to be removed.
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When multiple classes from the same school are booked, there is an opportunity for Daren to come for a follow-up visit to share the story and creative process from the other classes.
