EXPERIENCE: Over 200,000 students, teachers, and families in 38 states have experienced the intellectual and educational benefits of Christine Kallevig's creative presentations since her first book was published in 1991. She presents teacher workshops, family programs, student origami lessons, and large student assemblies in public and private schools, libraries, and at literary festivals and conferences.

As a former teacher and long-term PTA member, she understands how children learn and how schools operate. Every minute of her school programs target standards and proficiencies in math and/or language arts. Showing up on time, following a prescribed schedule, and using age-appropriate material that addresses the educational and developmental needs and interests of all the students are also essential elements of a successful visit. Christine's wide repertoire and willingness to be flexible makes her a popular speaker. She believes that it's better to adapt her presentation to the students rather than expecting hundreds of them to adapt to her.

GRADES or AGES: Pre-K through 8th grade, families, and school or library professionals.

LENGTH: Assemblies, Origami Intensives, and Family Presentations are usually 45 minutes. Workshops can last up to 90 minutes. Program lengths can be modified, depending on age levels and scheduling needs.

AUDIENCE SIZE is defined by the performance space and the type of desired experience. Christine performs in large venues (gyms or auditoriums) and smaller rooms (libraries or all-purpose rooms.) Common group sizes are approximately 200 per assembly, 50 per origami intensives, 100 per professional workshops, and unlimited for family evening programs.

PRESENTATION SET-UP/EQUIPMENT: Christine loves to donate origami sculptures to the schools she visits, so please provide her with information about your school colors and/or mascots. She also displays dozens of origami models and explains how they are made during presentations. She needs two large tables (at least six feet long) for these origami models and another large table to display the books that are available for optional autographing. Adequate lighting and a clip-on or freestanding microphone are also required. A microphone on a stand is preferred. Students do not need tables for assembly programs, but desks or tables are necessary for Origami Intensives. Find further set-up details HERE.

FEES
Option 1: A single 45-minute presentation of any kind is $500, but multiple presentations are discounted to $200 each. For example, the price for two sessions in one day is $700, three sessions in one day is $900, four sessions costs $1,100, etc. To help defray costs, the total daily fees may be split between different schools. Two morning sessions at one school and two afternoon sessions at another would cost each school only $550 ($225/session), if both buildings are scheduled on the same day. Included are all supplies for group paper folding, prizes for student volunteers, and donations of unique origami sculptures for school libraries or display cases.

Transportation from Cleveland, Ohio is the only additional cost. Christine takes advantage of early booking discounts whenever possible and for closer locations, charges a very modest flat-rate driving fee.

Option 2: Free presentations with the purchase of 100 autographed books. The books are offered at these discounted prices: The Sun, the Moon, and the Origami Grammmie ($12, reg. $16.99), Nature Foldalong Stories ($8, reg. $11.99), and All About Pockets ($5, reg. $9.95).

If you decide you want two sessions, your cost in Option 1 would be $700, but with Option 2, your cost is still $700 plus you'd also receive 100 books! Example: 20 Nature Foldalong Stories for $160, 20 Sun, Moon, Origami Grammie for $240, and 60 All About Pockets for $300 - a $700 value.

The books can be used however you wish, including selling them to offset the cost of Christine's visit or as incentive gifts to your young readers. Note: Autographs for Option 2 are signature only. Option 2 is available only as long as supplies last.

ASSEMBLIES: A novelist and performing artist since 1991, Christine folds giant-sized paper as she tells stories. Each fold represents an action, setting, or character, so by the time the story is over, a surprise origami figure is magically created. Students become illustrators as they fold along during the seamless blending of literature and origami. Interactive programs for grades K-8 feature:

• Hands-on paper folding activities
• Origami puppetry
• Plot and character development
• Editing and research techniques
• Mathematical components of origami
• Asian folktales
• Origami adaptations of traditional folk tales

ORIGAMI INTENSIVES: These breakout sessions for grades 4 through 8 are limited to 50 students and emphasize more hands-on participation than regular assembly programs. Students learn to fold several origami models by pairing folding steps with story events. The process of developing new storigami stories is also demonstrated. Its loads of fun, builds basic paper folding skills, and there's no extra charge for paper supplies.

FAMILY EVENING PRESENTATIONS: Several short origami stories are presented for families to enjoy together. Christine uses music, humor, and large origami puppetry to dramatize traditional folk tales. None of the material in evening sessions is used earlier, so students extend their learning with all new experiences. Christine always finishes the evening with an easy fold-along tale so that everyone has an origami souvenir to take home.

ORIGAMI GRAMMIE TALES: Christine plays the role of Grammie, the wacky main character of her illustrated picture story book, The Sun, The Moon, and the Origami Grammie. Short origami tales for preschool and early childhood children are told with lots of music, puppets, and action.

All About Pockets is designed for early childhood educators and daycare providers interested in applying the teaching concepts included in the field of multiple intelligence. It provides practical tips and resources for how to use pockets and aprons to meet educational goals while satisfying young children's various sensory modalities and learning styles.

"Storigami is a kid magnet. It pulls students into a world where language and art co-exist as equal partners, a world where paper folding captures attention and words provide comprehension. The stories stimulate imagination and offer entertaining examples of creative problem solving, but more importantly, they serve as a platform to examine the literary elements that make them successful. Fold-along activities allow students to experience illustration as a dynamic, active art form.

All components of my program are relevant to required curricular standards. Everything I bring to your school is designed to provoke questions, stimulate new ideas, or provide information. As a parent and former teacher, I have organized and raised funds for many school programs, so I thoroughly understand and appreciate the wise use of precious discretionary funds. Consequently, I work very hard to provide the best bang for the buck. I provide age-appropriate information about how to write fiction and non-fiction, demonstrate how simple math concepts come to life through origami, and most of all, I strive to spread joy by opening minds to the wonders of creative possibilities."

Click to see a typical Storigami display

Copyright 2024 by Christine Petrell Kallevig