How do you explain evolution to an elementary-schooler? Can you make teenagers care about tectonic plates? If you’re not cool enough will they give up on science forever (and pick you last in kickball)? This session will explore the challenges and rewards of writing for kids. We’ll discuss getting to know your audience and speaking their language. We’ll ask how graphics, humor, games and activities can help get your point across. We’ll talk about social media presence and reaching out to new groups. And we’ll see why if you can talk about science to kids, you can talk about science to anyone.
Questions:
- How can you get to know your audience (whether preschoolers, high-schoolers, or homeschoolers) and what excites them?
- Can you simplify complex topics without dumbing them down?
- How should you handle controversial subjects (and your readers’ parents)?
- Should you say that on Twitter? How important is outreach and your social media persona?
- How can cartoons, graphics, humor, games, and hands-on activities help you engage audiences of different ages?