Shiko and Walter AdventuresShiko and Walter AdventuresShiko and Walter AdventuresShiko and Walter Adventures
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STEAM POWER FOR EDUCATORS

I am pleased to offer story- related on-site programs and lesson plans that integrate the arts with life science. I have developed them to assist educators in meeting Next Generation Science, English Language Arts, and Core Arts Standards in fun, multi-modal ways.

Designed for:   Grades 1st-4th    Ages:  6-9

Programs & Lessons

Tree Time: Through a dynamic collage making process, children experience the life cycle of story character Walter, a decaying water oak.  They also learn about other types of oak trees and the environments where they grow.

What’s for Dinner?  Children explore the food webs and chains of backyard ecosystems through an interactive information gathering process.  The lesson culminates with children collaboratively creating large backyard food pyramids.

Backyard Magic:  Children follow a step-by-step landscape planning process to create simple backyard designs that are teaming with life.  Along the way, they learn about backyard plant placement and plants that attract wildlife.

Marvelous Mandalas: Children explore their favorite backyard plants and animals and how they are interconnected.  Then children create circular designs called mandalas that express their personal backyard worlds.

Flash Fiction: Children examine the backyard setting and characters of The Adventures of Shiko and Walter, while learning about key elements of story telling.  Then children write and illustrate their own short backyard tales.

Let’s Boogie:  Children read excerpts from The Adventures of Shiko and Walter stories, practice how Shiko and animal characters move, then perform short choreodramas of action scenes.

Story Time: (On-Site) I share backyard wildlife and plants found in The Adventures of Shiko and Walter stories through interactive show, touch and tell, and movement exercises.

ON- SITE PROGRAMS

I tailor each program according to grade level, age group, class or group size, and time allotted. I have enjoyed sharing these programs with schools, libraries, home school groups, and other local venues.

Tangipahoa Parish

  • Oaks Montessori School
  • Westside Montessori Elementary School
  • Hammond Regional Arts Center
  • Holy Ghost Elementary School
  • Trafton Academy
  • Southeastern Louisiana University Lab School
  • Once Upon a Time Literacy Festival
  • Children’s Discovery Center

St Tammany Parish

  • Pontchartrain Elementary School
  • St. Tammany Parish Library Book Festival
  • Northshore Parents Learning Expo
  • Barnes & Noble

Other Louisiana Venues

  • New Orleans & Northshore home school groups
  • Knock Knock Children’s Museum, Baton Rouge
  • St. Francisville  Children’s Book Festival
  • Livingston Parish Library Book Festival
Interested? Contact Me

“Karen’s story- based nature programs were phenomenal! The students were so enthralled they couldn’t stop asking questions. They also loved looking, and touching the natural items she incorporated into the programs.  Karen has taken children’s book readings to a higher level!”

Andrea L., Librarian, Southeastern Louisiana University Lab School

LESSON PLANS

I customize each plan according to grade level or age group.  Each plan includes a complimentary copy of the The Adventures of Shiko and Walter storybook.

Download a Sample Lesson Plan
Interested? Contact Me
Grow Like an Oak Tree
Grow Like an Oak Tree
Explore Backyard Wildlife
Explore Backyard Wildlife
Build Backyard Food Webs
Build Backyard Food Webs
Explore Backyard Insects & Seeds
Explore Backyard Insects & Seeds

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From the Blog

  • Amazing Ants

    Do you remember the Uncle Milton ant farms we had as children? 

    20 February, 2019

News & Events

The “Shiko & Walter’s Spring” sequel is complete and I am currently working on “Shiko & Walter’s Summer.”

I continue to enjoy sharing my first book and story- related children’s life science programs at book signings, festivals, schools, libraries and other local venues.

Copyright © 2018, Karen Wallsten. All Rights Reserved.
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Shiko and Walter Adventures