RBS Schools Events

RBS Gala Day!Tuesday 26 August, 10.00am-11.00am, RBS Corner TheatreP6-7Mark Robson’s Learning to Fly your Dragon –Researching the Impossible!EVENT SYNOPSISIn this event Mark Robson willexplore how his experiences asa Royal Air Force pilot helpedprepare him to write dragonstories. He speaks with greatverve about the power oftenacity and goal-setting andthe relevance of school workto both his careers, as pilotand author.BIOGRAPHYMark Robson grew up in west Wales and joined the RAF as a pilotstraight from school. He spent twenty one years flying a variety ofaircraft, then changed careers two years ago to become a full-timeauthor. Firestorm is the first in his Dragon Orb quartet.TIPS FOR TEACHERS• Firestorm explores the effects of phobias and shows a character coming to terms with irrationalfears. Is there anything you are afraid of? Have you ever confronted your fears?• Later in the series, certain episodes are set in France during the First World War. Learn more aboutthis period and write about your own character – soldier or civilian – living at that time.• Mark believes very strongly in following your dreams and setting goals to achieve them. After readingone of his books, discuss what the characters do to ensure that their ambitions are realised and thinkabout what you would do in their place.BOOKSHELFFirestorm £6.99 (paperback, published August 2008), Imperial Spy £6.99,The Forging of the Sword £5.99WEBSITE www.markrobsonauthor.comTuesday 26 August, 10.00am-11.00am, RBS Main TheatreP4-7 Tony Bradman and the Viking WarriorsEVENT SYNOPSISTony Bradman will use hisamazing creation HaraldHardnut to illustrate how aViking warrior is brought tolife from the depths of historyto the pages of a book. He likesto pack as many jokes, storiesand poems into an event as hecan to entertain and engagestudents. You will see how abook is created, from initialidea right through to thefinished copy, including allthe notebooks, manuscriptsand proofs in-between.BIOGRAPHYTony Bradman has worked in the field of children’s books as a writer,reviewer, editor and all-round good bloke for a long time. Since 1980,in fact. He’s written far too many books and visited lots of schools,which he thinks is the best part. He enjoys it so much he doesn’t wantto do anything else!TIPS FOR TEACHERS• Encourage pupils to think about what goes into the creation of a book. Where does a writer get hisor her ideas? How are these ideas developed? What are the important parts of a story? How do youcreate a character and make them come alive?• Who decides on what size and length a book is going to be and what it’s going to look like?Try and design your own book jackets or compare and contrast some books in your library for ideas.BOOKSHELFHarald Hardnut £5.99, The Dirty Dozen £4.99, Dilly the Dinosaur £3.99EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL RBS SCHOOLS PROGRAMME23