By April Lavine, teacher, Nelson
My name is April Lavine and I’ve spent most of my professional life in the classroom, either working as a classroom teacher or as a TTOC in Nelson. I also have a deep love for music and have been teaching music lessons for the last decade.
As a teacher I am always trying to find ways to inspire students. I felt I couldn’t have a direct impact with students during the COVID pandemic, so I decided to write a children’s book about an adventurous, nature-loving nine-year-old girl named Juniper. Juniper embarks on a life-changing journey to walk in the woods on her own and learn about the importance of protecting old growth forests. As Juniper ventures deeper into the forest, she faces challenges and obstacles that help her grow in ways she never expected. Along the way, she discovers magical creatures known as the Fairy Flurries who help her learn tools to self-regulate and feel resourced. It’s a book that I hope will inspire kids to not only develop a love for the natural world but also understand the importance of caring for it and caring for oneself. I also hope that this book can inspire students to develop their artistic abilities, as this book was illustrated by Amelie Drewitz, a student I taught in 2018. Perhaps students will be inspired, knowing that their art could also be in a published book one day!
When I wrote The Fairy Flurries, I had educators in mind. As a teacher myself, I understand how important it is to connect classroom content with real-world lessons. That’s why I’ve put together a series of lesson plans and activities that will complement the book—ones that you can easily implement in your own classroom. They are geared toward elementary school students (Grades 1–6), with a focus on language arts, visual arts, environmental education, and personal growth. You can find some example activities on TeachBC. I truly hope that The Fairy Flurries and the connected activity sheets will inspire your students.
More information
Learn more about The Fairy Flurries and connect with the author on Instagram @thefairyflurries.