Mindful Storytelling with Mark Westmoquette

Author, astrophysicist and zen yoga and mindfulness teacher Mark Westmoquette is bringing his beautiful picture book, Look Up at Bedtime to Canterbury Children's Literature Festival. Mark can offer interactive visits for individual classes and smaller groups. Timings can be adjusted to suit schools' needs, please book morning or afternoon and we will be in touch to discuss details.

This session offers a mix of hands-on activities, relaxing mindful moments and readings from the book, including:

- feeling our planet through our sense of weight and gravity

- exploring the light and warmth of the sun, leading to understanding about how we receive the Sun’s energy

- reading the Aztec story/myth of 'Nanahuatzin Became the Sun, Tecciztecatl Became the Moon'

- discussing how we can send wishes of love and kindness to others on a beam of sunlight or moonlight

Through this event children will experience benefits around:

- Building a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world in an embodied, age-appropriate way, helping them feel part of something bigger than themselves.

- Supporting emotional wellbeing and self-awareness through mindfulness practices, storytelling and imaginative reflection.

- Introducing scientific ideas such as gravity, sunlight and energy through experimentation and lived experience, imagination and discussion.

- Encouraging children to reflect on values of compassion, generosity and connection, reinforcing social and emotional learning.

Recommended for Reception to Year 2, but can be adapted for Year 3 -6

School events are provided free to local schools with Canterbury Children's Literature Festival covering the costs.