School Visits and Art Classes: virtual or in person

Do you want to inspire your students to be creative thinkers? Katrina presents new ideas and creative strategies to spark your students’ imaginations. At a school or library presentation, she reads her books and then shows the process of creating a book from rough drafts of writing and pencil sketches to finished story and colorful artwork. Children are motivated and empowered to become writers and artists themselves.

Booking

NEW! Blue Door Studio Art Classes for Adults and Children!

Click to see the current class schedule.

An author/illustrator visit provides an experience for your students that they won't forget! Tailored to your classroom grade level, Katrina will get children to put their imaginations into overdrive to come up with new ideas using out-of-the-box thinking. Build her visit into a unit on reading, writing, or drawing, or have her come as a special guest for an hour that your students will remember all year!

Become an Art Detective or inspire your students with the Art Academy!

See bottom of this page for details.

  • Katrina is also available to sign books and meet students and teachers informally.

  • Children are motivated and empowered to become writers and artists themselves.

  • Students and teachers are welcome to ask questions about the process.

“Thank you so much for sharing your books here at Caroline. It’s a great opportunity for students to see the creative process in action. I look forward to more visits in the future!"Milly S., elementary school librarian
Choose from these presentations/workshops:

Author/Illustrator Visit and Discussion

For each session with students Katrina starts by reading her book "At Home with Books," then asks students "What happens next?" in the stories the Bear Family reads.
 
She talks about different types of writing styles and subjects (fairy tales, non-fiction, fantasy, and rhyming text) and emphasizes creative thinking, customizing the discussion for the grade level of the students in attendance.

The presentation ends with a reading of her book "It Began with a Song" and she shows sketches and finished illustrations from the book. Children can bend, stretch, and move to the story and get their wiggles out! If there is time for a second reading of the book, students can consider the themes of friendship, cooperation, and respecting differences that are threaded through the story.

Students and teachers are welcome to ask questions about the writing, illustrating, and printing process.

 Each student walks away with ideas for their own writing and illustrating. Katrina is also available to sign books and meet students and teachers informally. Recommended for Pre-K through 2nd grade. Session are about 40 min. for 1st and 2nd grade and 30 min. for Pre-K and K.

Order "It Began with a Song," "Quiet Cat Loud Cat,"  and "At Home with Books" in English or English/Spanish through Amazon.com. For local purchases of 10 or more copies, contact Katrina for a discounted rate.

For school visits Katrina prefers to talk to groups of no more than 100 at a time so that everyone can participate. Actual sketches and artwork can be shown to small groups. For larger groups, students can see materials via a PowerPoint presentation (computer and projector provided by school.)

RATES:
1 hour, within 30 miles of Ithaca, NY: $250
3 hours, within 50 miles of Ithaca, NY: $500
6 hour day, within 50 miles of Ithaca, NY: $750
Out of the area, add travel expenses and contact Katrina.

VIRTUAL visits are available too!  Contact Katrina for more information.

Book here





Book here
Thanks, Katrina. I just loved reading about the artist. And what a simple and fun way to examine a work of art.
Julie N.

Imagination Stretcher: Writing Workshop

In “At Home with Books,” there are four different books that the Bear Family reads that are beginnings of stories. Katrina first reads “At Home with Books” and then brainstorms with children about the possible “stories within the story.” Children will then spend time writing their own stories and share them with the class. Emphasis is on imaginative thought and the unique ideas of each student.

TIME: 1 hour

SIZE: one class

AGES: grades 1-3

Materials needed: paper and pencils



RATES: within 30 miles of Ithaca, NY: $250 
Out of the area, add travel expenses and contact Katrina.

Book here


TEACHERS!

Engage your elementary-aged students in a 40 minute virtual session of looking, thinking, and talking about one piece of art. Students learn the value of different opinions and listening to others, practice creative thinking and communicating their ideas, and gain confidence in their own ability to learn.

Using the Visual Thinking Strategies (vtshome.org) of facilitating, art educator Katrina Morse guides students into a deeper look at artwork and encourages curiosity. What is going on in this picture?

Each session looks closely at one work. Artwork could be a mural created by an artist local to your area, a painting of a culturally specific scene, a photograph that may be more than just its face value, or another style of artwork. All images are age-appropriate to your class. If you are studying a specific unit, Katrina can choose an image to extend your students’ exploration of that learning area.

The session ends with more information about the artist, style of art, and the specific artwork viewed.

COST: $100 per class session: virtual or in-person if possible

Draw Me a Story Workshop

Beginning with a read-aloud of “It Began with a Song,” Katrina asks students to notice the many types of animals depicted in the story. She then gives a demonstration of how to draw animals using basic shapes like circles, ovals, rectangles and triangles. Students will draw their own animals and then write a caption for their illustration, as if it were an illustration for a book.

TIME: 1.5 hours

SIZE: one class

AGES: grades 1-3

Materials needed: paper and pencils



RATES: within 30 miles of Ithaca, NY: $300 
Out of the area, add travel expenses and contact Katrina.

Book here


ADULTS!

Enjoy a virtual Art Detective get-together with family and friends near and far! There are no right or wrong answers when you are looking at art. Each person’s observations and opinions are valued equally. You’ll see things you’ve never noticed and learn what others think about a piece of artwork. The session ends with more information about the artist, style of art, and the specific artwork viewed.

COST: $10 per participant: virtual or in-person if possible

Limit 3-6 people

Book here
Thanks so much for sharing your art appreciation skills with us. I loved your selection of this artwork, which had so much going on. The session was fascinating; hearing the observation and thoughts of the other, multi-aged participants enriched the experience; and your ability to mirror back our comments led us to deeper experience of the piece.
Carol C.

ART ACADEMY

The Art Academy engages students in looking at, thinking about, and creating art. Each of 3 lessons is based on Visual Art integrated with English Language Arts and Social Emotional Learning.
Session 1. Art as a Profession
Session 2. Art Appreciation
Session 3. Art Creation.
Total cost is $300.

Sessions are student-centered and promote the Art Academy 4 Cs:

  • Curiosity
  • Creative problem solving
  • Communication skills
  • Confidence in student’s own ability to learn

Download a PDF with more information.