WHAT? Christine Petrell Kallevig folds giant-sized paper as she tells stories. Each fold illustrates an action or character from the story, so by the time the story is over, a surprise origami figure is created. Audiences are delighted and amazed as they experience the seamless blending of these dynamic folk arts.Storigami is an enticing experience where audiences cross an enchanted bridge connecting language and art, a bridge where you definitely want to let your fingers do the walking.
HOW? Christine relies heavily on her background as a former classroom teacher and music therapist when she selects material that targets goals and objectives for students in grades K-8. Teaching creative writing and simple origami techniques are included in every Storigami session, but she also likes to donate origami models to the schools and libraries she visits.
This 9-piece Origami Dog Sled Team is a sculpture Christine designed specially for a school in Alaska.
Other recent gifts to schools included falcons, dancing cranes, wolves, bulldogs, cardinals, dragons, bears, eagles, black panthers, tigers, elk, and bison. Most were mascots folded in school colors for media centers, principal desks, or lobby showcases.
The most unusual origami sculpture Christine Kallevig made was for a Crooksville, Ohio K-8 School.
Their mascot is a man at a potter's wheel. 
Another interesting origami challenge was designing an origami Railroader for a school in Garrett, Indiana. Redford, Michigan needed a Volt, so she created a spinning three-dimensional flash of blue and white lightning. Christine visited schools in Washington DC and gave them each an origami bald eagle folded out of wallpaper, one of her favorite folding materials.
The creative possibilities for the educational use of origami are endless! 
WHY? Kids love origami, but they need stories:
- Stories touch hearts and feed minds.
- Stories stimulate imagination.
- Stories reveal roots of intelligence and creativity.
- Stories are language, language, and MORE LANGUAGE! Storytelling is included in most educational standards, too. Here's some examples:
Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively.
Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering elaboration and detail.
When a story is illustrated by progressive origami folds, recalling the events of the story is the same as recalling the steps necessary to create the origami figure. Short-term memory is greatly enhanced, the whole brain is activated, and everyone has fun while learning exciting, new paper folding skills. Click here to download more information about the educational, developmental, and emotional benefits of combining origami and stories.
WHO? Christine Petrell Kallevig works primarily with grades preK - 8 during school author visits. She also presents summer reading programs and storytelling workshops at schools, libraries, museums, churches, festivals, and conferences worldwide. Although her audiences are usually young authors themselves, she loves to speak to "young at heart" adults as well, especially at holiday banquets, art festivals, storytelling events, or association meetings.
Mathematical components of origami (symmetry, bilateral, shapes, ratios) and creative writing techniques (researching, editing, developing plot and characters) are included in every school program and author visit.
CONTACT: Click HERE for complete details
of Christine's school visits, conference presentations, and other storytelling programs, including fees, recommended ages, group size limits, and set-up requirements.
For references and availability, call (440) 838-4881
or send an E-Mail to VisitingAuthor-Ohio@yahoo.com
Articles, Reviews, and Photos of Christine Petrell Kallevig
- Midwest Book Review of Christine Petrell Kallevig's picture storybook, The Sun, The Moon, and The Origami Grammie. Scroll down to the fifth Picturebook in the January, 2014 edition to read the full review.
- Origami Artist at Kerr Elementary.
- Tales Unfold at a Pennsylvania School.
- A New Jersey school librarian reacts to a Storigami program.
- "Rio Hondo College Library invited students, faculty, staff, and community members to a celebration of Day of Children/Books on April 19. Sponsored by Verizon, this Día event featured nationally renowned origami storyteller, Christine Petrell Kallevig. Kallevig demonstrated her storigami style..." Click here to read the rest of this article about a California visit.
- Response to Christine's Presentation at a New York School
- "This year the students of Eleanor Rush Intermediate School celebrated Read Across America with a unique visitor who folded their imaginations into wonderful, new shapes..." Click here to read the rest of this detailed article about a recent school visit.
- Leaping into Literacy for an Ohio Right to Read Week
- Christine presents Storigami at Children's Book Festival in Toledo, Ohio
- Christine accepts the Florence Temko Award in New York City
- Origami Storytelling in Elementary School Education
- Storigami at Cornwall Elementary's Art in Our School Day in Cornwall, PA
| CONTACT her ASAP to schedule a visit for:
Welcome Back-to-School Events
Family Title 1, STEAM, and Art Nights
Ohio Right to Read Events
Read Across America Events
Michigan March is for Reading Month
Young Author Events
Reading Motivational Presentations
If you would like an author visit or Storigami presentation while Christine's touring through your area, call 440-838-4881 immediately to add your school or library to her travel schedule. |
Christine's Amazing
TO DO LIST:
