Guidebook explorers: around the world

Year 3 – 6

A creative literacy journey for primary years with Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Viviane Schwarz.

About Guidebook explorers: around the world

Embark on a journey all about guidebooks, and discover fascinating and delightful ways to explore place. Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Viviane Schwarz and Ben Shires return this summer to take your students around the world and enliven engagement with literacy, geography and the wonder of books. Expect global locations, persuasive writing techniques and draw-along fun.

Supporting reading for pleasure and writing for pleasure, this year’s session will celebrate the art of guidebooks and the magic of unusual and wonderful places. Students will be inspired to create their own guidebooks through insights into books about the world, creative prompts, and interactive making.

What to expect:

  • Rashmi will reveal cultures and landscapes from across the world and provide writing techniques to help students develop their own miniature travel guides
  • Viviane will lead imaginative draw‑alongs to help children bring their chosen places to life visually
  • Ben will host, energise and connect the activities, keeping the adventure moving from place to place
  • for Key Stage 2, Year 3 – 6, ages 7 – 11.
  • Rashmi Sirdeshpande

    Rashmi Sirdeshpande is an award-winning neurodivergent children's author who loves taking big ideas and making them accessible and exciting for young readers.

    Rashmi Sirdeshpande sat in front of book cases
    Credit: Rashmi Siredeshpande
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    She writes a mix of picture books, poetry, fiction and illustrated non-fiction. A former official World Book Day author and BookTrust Writer-in-Residence, her books have been published around the world and featured in a number of national and international newspapers.

    rashmisirdeshpande.com

  • Viviane Schwarz

    Viviane Schwarz is an award winning, internationally published author and artist creating children’s books, books about games, museum installations and other interactive things.

    Viviane Schwarz looking to camera left, against a red background
    Credit: Viviane Schwarz
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    Viviane also lectures, makes card games and performs on stage.

    vivianeschwarz.co.uk

  • Ben Shires

    Ben Shires is a British television presenter and comedian, currently working on TV channels CBBC and Dave.

    More

    He hosts the Guinness World Records-themed children's show Officially Amazing, and is also a radio presenter on Heart Yorkshire.

What to bring and how to prepare:
  • Each child should have a minimum of five sheets of A4 paper and a pencil (coloured pencils optional but welcome)
  • please ensure a teacher or school staff member is present in the classroom for the duration of the session
  • we’d be grateful if you could complete the short questionnaire when signing up to this event. The data you provide helps us to understand where our audience is and how many children will be watching.
About our Schools programme

Looking for inspiring and educational activities for your primary or secondary school? Join us for workshops, tours and teacher CPD events in London, Leeds, and online.  View our full range of primary and secondary school activities and teacher CPDs.

Dates and times