FEATURED ASSEMBLIES
Math + Literature = Learning + Fun!
Grades: K-8 (preferably in grade groupings such as K-2, 3-5, 6-8)
Time: 45 -75 min.
Audience: any size
With a wealth of visuals, David leads his audience on an exciting journey that combines math, science, writing and literature. Children and teachers are thrilled by his unique approach that makes math more relevant and exciting than any of them ever thought possible! David stresses the joy and the power of wondering – and how his books derive from musings he had as a child. As the author of 50 published books, David also discusses the writing life and the value of revision, persistence and originality of thought. Content is customized to the age and needs of the group, and differs markedly between primary, intermediate and middle school grades.
Please Note: In most schools, David sees each audience only once. In this case, he presents one of the above “featured assemblies” to each group. If he is seeing an audience more than once,
he can present the workshops described below for follow-up visit(s).
WORKSHOPS
Look Once, Look Again: Science Presentation
Grades: K – 3
Time: 30 – 45 minutes
Audience: Small-Medium
This is a delightful science presentation that draws upon David’s Look Once, Look Again science series along with Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed and Revealed and its sequels. Using an entertaining guessing-game format, the author projects remarkable nature photos from his books while discussing the fascinating creatures depicted. He challenges the children to use their knowledge, reasoning skills and powers of observation. Great science and great fun!
Storytelling: Super Grandpa and more
Grades: K – 3
Time: 20-45 minutes
Audience: Any Size
Barred from a 1,000-mile bike race because of his age, 66-year old Gustaf Håkansson rode anyway and became a national hero. The heartwarming, true story found in David’s book offers a lesson for all generations, told to spellbound audiences with warmth, character and suspense. David can also share works of fiction in progress.
The Storycrafter’s Art
Grades: 2 – 6
Time: 30 – 45 minutes
Audience: Small-Medium
Where do an author’s ideas come from? How does an author tell a story with vivid images? Drawing upon the prose of Super Grandpa and the poems of Where In the Wild?, David shows how authors turn simple storylines into engaging literature.
Nature’s Numbers: The Math-Science Connection
Grades: 4 – 8
Time: 45 – 60 minutes
Audience: Small-Medium
While projecting magnificent nature photographs from his Hidden Life series, David shows his audience how math and science go together. Guided by the author and the facts he provides, the children perform calculations and estimations, and arrive at some amazing conclusions that help them better appreciate plants, animals and natural environments.
Think Big! Workshop on Big Numbers
Grades: 4 – 6
Time: 45 – 60 minutes
Audience: Small
After the featured assembly your students will be ready to tackle some BIG problems! This interactive session presents a variety of mind-bending mathematical challenges that integrate many areas of the school curriculum.
Math, Science and a Love of Books
Middle & High School Grades
Time: 45 – 60 minutes
Audience: Any Size
David’s talk for secondary school students shows how science, math, writing and reading can all come together. He focuses on how he has successfully combined elements of all four in his own career as a magazine journalist and children’s book author, and he illustrates his points with photographs from his nature books and articles, for several national magazines including Smithsonian. Grade-appropriate mathematical concepts and problems are presented to show the inseparability of math and science.
FAMILY PROGRAM
Numbers, Numbers, Everywhere!
Grades: K – 6 and family members
Time: 45 – 60 minutes
Audience: Any Size
David shows the many ways that numbers enrich our lives. He treats parents and children to delightful storytelling, and talks about the connection between stories and numbers. This presentation, which is not intended for pre-school age children, draws upon but does not repeat David’s featured assembly given during the day.
For further information:
David M. Schwartz
1849 Drake Drive Oakland CA 94611 (510) 339-6778
info@davidschwartz.com www.davidschwartz.com