Classroom Crafts: Contact Cathy on: catherine.watts3001@gmail.com

To accompany my stories and the seaside tales in schools, I also offer a range of related craft activities which are good fun and simple to organise with a class of around 30 children. I bring with me all the necessary bits and pieces, including the cut-out templates for each child, googly eyes and stickers. I also offer the craft sessions in French and German too. Here is a sample of what I do:

Glittery beach huts

Made out of cardboard, these delightful beach huts can be tailored to all seasons eg Christmas, summertime, Easter, Hallowe'en to fit with the sandies story chosen for the session. Hidden away inside are pictures of some of the child's favourite objects and then the door is shut to keep the secrets safely inside.

Mermaids' purses

These very attractive mermaids' purses are popular with the children as they are based on the real thing found so often along our coastlines. Each one is coloured front and back, stuffed and decorated with googly eyes. A secret message or picture can be placed inside before the purse is sealed up to keep the secret safe inside.

Sparkly dragonflies

Made out of wooden clothes pegs, these delightful dragonflies accompany the pond-life topic based around The Woodies by the Ponds. Each body is painted, wings coloured and positioned, pipe cleaner legs added and finally googly eyes are positioned. They make a super classroom display before the children take them home.

A dragonfly poem by a Year 4 group in a local Sussex primary school

Like a rainbow you are: gold; pink; purple; silver; aqua; orange; bronze; turquoise; platinum; emerald-green; lavender-lilac; metallic; ruby-red; neon-green; browny-blue.

All multi-coloured, you hover over the water which bounces back your reflection like crystals. Off you go dragonfly to your diamond mine!

Finger puppets

Finger puppets of the Sandies and the Woodies are also available (these are only sold when you buy a book) to help you to animate the stories. They are hand-made by Cathy and cost £4 each. They are not suitable for children under the age of three.