A Visit from Mother Goose | School Workshop

Celebrating fairy tales and nursery rhymes

Hello - I'm Cat, the creator of My Mother Goose, and I am passionate about fairy stories, nursery rhymes - and Mother Goose! Who was she? Her story begins in the dark forests of Old Europe and takes her all the way to Hollywood. Without Mother Goose, we wouldn't have some of the best-known fairy tales in the world. She really is that important. I have been a professional storyteller for twenty five years, working internationally to bring story magic into schools and onto festival stages. Now I am on a joyous mission to share the story of Mother Goose - and have enormous fun with story & rhyme sessions! mymothergoose.co.uk

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Format

Story sessions are generally 30 mins (nursery) 40 Mins (Reception) 50 mins (Yrs 1-6) Workshops are 60 mins.

Age Groups

EYFS - Y6, Nursery, Reception, Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Book a True Pro

As a professional Artist in Education for thirty years, I've worked with thousands of children worldwide, in hundreds of schools and nurseries. My sessions are perfectly pitched and age appropriate. I have full DBS and public liability insurance and always arrive with a smile!

'Cat is one of our great storytellers,' Michael Morpurgo

'Being with Cat is like swallowing sunshine' Charlie Jordan, Smooth Radio

'A magical performer' The Times

What I Offer

Story & rhyme sessions
Visual presentations
Writing workshops
Follow-on artwork with templates
Free Teachers’ Notes

I will come in costume as Mother Goose and stay in costume all day. Infants will readily accept her, so I talk in first person. With juniors, I switch to third person and acknowledge that I am dressed as the character of Mother Goose in celebration of her. I don't mention my own writing or bring my own books to sell.

I will send a video in advance of my visit, to build excitement and explain who Mother Goose is.

Infants

Magical story & rhyme sessions - highly interactive with music, singing, puppets and toys. Includes clapping rhymes to help build cross-body co-ordination.

Workshops are available for Years 1 & 2 - how to write fairy stories.

Juniors

With older children, I explore the history and cultural importance of the Mother Goose character.

Who was Mother Goose? A presentation with slides takes us from dark medieval forests in Germany to the flamboyant royal court of 18th France, onwards to the backstreets of London and across to America with the Pilgrim Fathers. We compare the British version of Mother Goose with her American counterpart, and find her everywhere, from library shelves to Shrek! There is also time for a story and Q & A. All stories will be entirely age appropriate.

Workshops include writing fairy tales and creating better fairy tale characters. For Years 5 & 6, we can analyse nursery rhymes and write new ones which they teach to KS1. This is great for learning the importance of rhythm in poetry.

Pure storytelling sessions are available for years 3 - 6, featuring traditional fairy tales from Europe.

Complementary Artwork

Mother Goose is such a striking visual character, and a goose shape is so easy to draw, creating art work around her is a joy. From wall displays to greetings cards, I include plenty of ideas in the free Teacher’s Notes. (You can have these in advance of my visit or on the day)

Also included in the notes is the history of Mother Goose and book suggestions.

Day Itinerary*

A Typical Day?

Together we will plan a perfect day to suit your needs and numbers. Performance sessions or a combination of performances + workshops ... You can pick and mix - I'm very flexible.

* The activities may vary on the day depending on the length of the sessions and the age and ability of the participants.

Gallery

Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Links

Curriculum Tie-Ins
- Oral and written literacy. My visit will definitely boost this! - PSHE. The moral lessons and practical teaching in fairy tales and nursery rhymes. - History. From medieval European beginnings to contemporary Hollywood, Mother Goose’s history spans continents and generations. - British Heritage. Mother Goose holds a key place in the cultural identity of Britain.

Cost

£ 250 per half day / £ 400 per full day plus a travel contribution by zone. No VAT

Testimonials

' The children love you SO much!'

Sarah Lancaster, Bromsgrove Pre-Prep and Nursery School

'Thank you so much for the sessions yesterday. The children have not stopped talking about it. They even asked where you were this morning.'

Ellie Fisher, Eastnor Primary School

Checklist

Enhanced DBS Checked Instructors
Public Liability Insurance
Risk Assessments

About This Provider (Cat Weatherill)

Head Office: Cat Weatherill, Home, B49

- Best-selling Puffin author, professional storyteller and poet - Cat specialises in bringing the magic of stories into schools. Her mission is to inspire and support the next generation of writers. Every child can write. Every child has a story to tell. Every child can be creative. She boosts confidence, gives creative writing advice and shows the sheer joy of life as a professional artist. Her visits create a real buzz on the day and have lasting effect - guaranteed.

Story sessions are generally 30 mins (nursery) 40 Mins (Reception) 50 mins (Yrs 1-6) Workshops are 60 mins.

I am fueled almost entirely by tea & biscuits, so a kettle will definitely be required! I work nationally and internationally so will happily travel to wherever you are, but I will might accommodation if you are distant. It doesn't have to be fancy!

National Book Month, National Poetry Day

Full Member of British Actors Equity

This service is available internationally
Anywhere in England
Anywhere in Northern Ireland
Anywhere in Scotland
Anywhere in Wales

Contact Cat Weatherill to book this Workshop.

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