School and Library visits
I love getting out and about from time to time to meet readers! I can tailor the visit depending on the class size or the age of the children.
Firstly, I do a cracking 1 hour session on Vikings, which takes in a lot of history. This is great for ages 7 and up.
I can offer workshops for upper Primary / KS2 classes on important aspects of creative writing, such as character, atmosphere and settings, mind-mapping stories, and on poetry / poetry and Scots language.
I do a terrific hour-long interactive session based on my Atlas of Scotland, which includes lots of geography, history, myths and legends.
I also do a session on how history inspires my writing, focussing on my historical fiction and non-fiction.
For a plate of garibaldi biscuits I will gladly dress up as a human cannonball and allow your pupils to fire me out of a cannon.
There are some excellent classroom resources out there, including an excellent recorded session from the 2021 Edinburgh Book Festival
I also have my own Youtube channel, with readings and draw-alongs.
If you are a school, library or community group in Scotland you could apply for a funded visit here.
See below for a selection of my delightful testimonials….
“This guy came to speak to our class. I can’t remember his name. Might have been something about Vikings.” Gordon Bilgewaffle, Year 3 pupil, Jimmy Wriddle Junior School
“He was mostly quite boring, except when he tripped and fell on top of Sister Euphemia. I’m not sure that was supposed to happen.” D’arcy Sarto, St Giblets Academy.
“Mr Macphail arrived at the school wearing an ‘I’m With Stupid’ t-shirt. He then stood at my side as the pupils filed into the hall. They were all pointing and laughing at me. I was not amused.” Mr O Cheesemention, Headteacher, Talbot Rothwell Primary School.
“I liked the sherrif badge he was wearing, but that was about it.” Alonso Pupil, Hugo Z Hackenabush Elementary School
“Mr Macphail got lost on the way to the toilet. We found him three hours later lodged in the fire escape.” Annette Schnozzpiffle, Year 4 teacher, St Glossops of Pudding Junior School
“Probably the most intelligent and sensible speaker we ever had.” Marjory Screamer, ‘The Earth is Flat’ Society.
I love getting out and about from time to time to meet readers! I can tailor the visit depending on the class size or the age of the children.
Firstly, I do a cracking 1 hour session on Vikings, which takes in a lot of history. This is great for ages 7 and up.
I can offer workshops for upper Primary / KS2 classes on important aspects of creative writing, such as character, atmosphere and settings, mind-mapping stories, and on poetry / poetry and Scots language.
I do a terrific hour-long interactive session based on my Atlas of Scotland, which includes lots of geography, history, myths and legends.
I also do a session on how history inspires my writing, focussing on my historical fiction and non-fiction.
For a plate of garibaldi biscuits I will gladly dress up as a human cannonball and allow your pupils to fire me out of a cannon.
There are some excellent classroom resources out there, including an excellent recorded session from the 2021 Edinburgh Book Festival
I also have my own Youtube channel, with readings and draw-alongs.
If you are a school, library or community group in Scotland you could apply for a funded visit here.
See below for a selection of my delightful testimonials….
“This guy came to speak to our class. I can’t remember his name. Might have been something about Vikings.” Gordon Bilgewaffle, Year 3 pupil, Jimmy Wriddle Junior School
“He was mostly quite boring, except when he tripped and fell on top of Sister Euphemia. I’m not sure that was supposed to happen.” D’arcy Sarto, St Giblets Academy.
“Mr Macphail arrived at the school wearing an ‘I’m With Stupid’ t-shirt. He then stood at my side as the pupils filed into the hall. They were all pointing and laughing at me. I was not amused.” Mr O Cheesemention, Headteacher, Talbot Rothwell Primary School.
“I liked the sherrif badge he was wearing, but that was about it.” Alonso Pupil, Hugo Z Hackenabush Elementary School
“Mr Macphail got lost on the way to the toilet. We found him three hours later lodged in the fire escape.” Annette Schnozzpiffle, Year 4 teacher, St Glossops of Pudding Junior School
“Probably the most intelligent and sensible speaker we ever had.” Marjory Screamer, ‘The Earth is Flat’ Society.