Unlock the magic hiding in everyday places with Sophie’s Magic in the Mundane school sessions. Perfect for primary schools across the UK, Sophie brings local folklore and hidden legends to life, inspiring students to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This part of The Best-Kept Secret author session engages children with local history, myth, and creative storytelling. Magic in the Mundane is brought to life through a creative blend of animation, imagery, music, and film, all woven together in a bespoke PowerPoint presentation carefully crafted by Sophie. It can be tailored to suit any school in the UK and beyond, making each session a unique, dynamic and immersive experience.
Local Research and Personalised Author Sessions Sophie ensures that each author visit is deeply rooted in the local community, focusing on places the children will recognise or are close to the school. She conducts in-depth research into the area’s history, folklore, and myths, ensuring each session feels personal and relevant to the children. Whether it’s a tale about a nearby landmark, local spirits, or hidden legends from the town’s past, Sophie crafts her sessions to reflect the unique stories of the area, making the experience more engaging and meaningful for the children. This personalisation encourages students to connect more deeply with their own heritage while also sparking their creativity and imagination. '𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐬." Sophie brings local legends and folklore to life in schools across the UK and beyond. Whether you teach in a bustling city, a charming town, or a remote village, she will capture the spirit of your area and craft a bespoke, immersive experience for the children in your school.
A Few Highlights from Magic in the Mundane Across the UK:
Burnley: Boggarts and Broomsticks On Sophie’s journey through Burnley, the children uncovered the rich history and folklore hidden in the everyday. They learned about Margaret Pearson, the “Padiham Witch', accused of witchcraft during the Lancashire witch trials in 1612. They also discovered the local connection to the Pendle witch trials, whose restless spirits are said to haunt Gawthorpe Hall. The students were taken into the heart of Thursden Valley, where the name —‘Valley of the Goblins’—brought mischievous boggarts to life. They also ventured to Towneley Hall, where the tale of Boggart’s Bridge had the children laughing while left wondering about the fate of the poor hen! And then there was Hand Bridge, a seemingly innocuous bridge many walk over on their way to Turf Moor. Sophie challenged them to look closer at the strange symbols etched on the stone, sparking imaginations as they wondered if they were Egyptian Hieroglyphics or something even more mysterious—perhaps a message from another time or place. The day ended with a visit to Monks Well in Towneley Park, a place of intrigue and magic. Could this simple folly be a fairy gateway or portal to another dimension? Sophie encouraged the children to see the world around them differently, reminding them that the most magical stories are often hidden in plain sight.
Skelmersdale: Highwaysmen and Haunted Histories Sophie took students on an unforgettable journey through the local landscape, revealing the folklore behind familiar landmarks. Students were introduced to mischievous boggarts, the green-skinned water spirit Jinny Greenteeth, said to haunt the Leeds and Liverpool canal and the legendary local highwayman George Lyon, who once prowled the banks of the River Tawd. They even explored the possibility of Ashurst’s Beacon being a portal to the fairy realm or a portal to an alternate universe. Sophie’s school visit was a magical exploration of Skelmersdale’s unique legends and myths, encouraging children to think creatively about the hidden stories around them.
Leicester: Boggarts, Giants, and Fairy Portals Sophie shared tales from Brocks Hill Country Park, where boggarts and shape-shifting spirits haunt the marshlands. Sophie shared the curious story of the Humber Stone, believed to mark the entrance to the fairy kingdom, with secret passages to hidden fairy dwellings. One of the most captivating tales was that of Bel, the boastful giant who claimed he could leap to Leicester in three jumps, each leaving a mark on the landscape—Wanlip, Birstall, and Belgrave. Through these tales, Sophie encouraged the children to look for magic in the world around them, sparking their imaginations to create their own stories of wonder and mystery.
Gisburn: Witch Trials and Fairy Folk Sophie shared the story of Jennet Preston, the Gisburn witch who was accused of causing the death of Thomas Lister. Arrested after attending the Assembly of the Witches at Malkin Tower, Jennet’s tale tied together the local witch trials and the spooky legends of the area. She then took students on a journey through Gisburn Forest, exploring its mix of woodland and bogland—home to boggarts, shape-shifting spirits who were said to live in marshland, holes, and under bridges. She also shared the tale of Lark Hill Stone, a rock believed to have been used to trap boggarts, preventing them from escaping. Sophie also delved into the legend of Robin Hood and his enemy, Sir Guy of Gisburn, drawing links to the discovery of an ancient sword at Bomber Camp just outside Gisburn. Was this the sword of the infamous Sir Guy, or could it have belonged to Robin Hood? And as always, Sophie’s sessions led students to wonder: could the ancient ruin near Colne, known as The Gateway to Pendle, be a portal to another world—a fairy realm or an alternate universe?
Chorley: Mischievous Spirits and Local Myths Sophie ventured into the West Pennine Moors, where students were introduced to the legend of the boggart—a mischievous spirit that lived in marshlands, holes, and under bridges. Sophie shared tales of how 'Brownies' or 'Silkies', helpful household sprites, turned into unruly Boggarts if mistreated. The eerie Headless Cross near Grimeford was another highlight, where it’s said a boggart, also a shapeshifter, was trapped under a stone to prevent it from escaping. Sophie also introduced the infamous Jinny Greenteeth, a freshwater fairy spirit said to haunt the waters around Chorley, with her green mossy skin and mischievous ways. Jenny could either be a guide or a trickster, luring travellers closer with promises of treasure or guiding them through dark woods. Finally, Sophie led students to the Whittle Spinney Woods, where with the help of a bit of imagination, an ancient lime kiln might be more than just a ruin—it could be a fairy portal, a gateway to another dimension, or even an alternate universe.
Yorkshire Dales: Spectral Drummers and the Mystery of Trollers Gill The session began with a tale from Skipton Castle, where the children were fascinated by the eerie story of The Sheep’s Head Ghost, said to appear in the castle’s shadows.
Next, they ventured into the legend of Trollers Gill, a mist-filled ravine where the fearsome Barghest, a monstrous black dog with glowing eyes, is said to roam. The magic continued with Janet’s Foss, a beautiful waterfall near Malham, and the tale of Janet, the Fairy Queen. The children were mesmerised as they pictured secret fairy kingdoms hidden within the woods, imagining what it would be like to step into a world of magic and wonder. At Richmond Castle, the children learned about the Spectral Drummer, a ghostly drummer whose beats echo through the castle grounds. The children were left wondering what might be the cause of the haunting rhythm and what message the ghost might be trying to send. Finally, the children were intrigued by Semerwater, a mysterious lake that supposedly submerged an entire village, and were introduced to Grindylow, the Yorkshire-based freshwater mermaid. The children’s curiosity was piqued as they imagined what secrets might lie beneath the water's surface and the stories hidden there, waiting to be discovered.
Rishton: Abbeys and Ancient Legends In this session, Sophie took the children on a journey through local folklore, encouraging them to explore the mystical and eerie legends of the area. She began by introducing the origins of the town's name, linking it to the marshland where rushes grow, and then delved into the world of boggarts—mischievous spirits believed to inhabit the marshes and other wild places. Sophie engaged the children with the idea of shapeshifting boggarts, inviting them to imagine the creatures changing form into black dogs, rabbits, or even a bale of hay that transformed into a young girl! The session moved from boggarts to the tale of Jinny Greenteeth, a freshwater spirit said to haunt the waters of Lancashire, including the reservoirs surrounding Rishton and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which runs through the town. Sophie used vivid storytelling to paint a picture of Jenny's green mossy skin and her role as a helpful guide and a deceptive trickster. For the Burnley fans in the class, Sophie also explored the mysterious symbols on Hand Bridge, sparking the children's imaginations with questions about whether they could decipher the code. As Sophie guided the children through local legends, she introduced them to the Skriker, a creature from Lancashire folklore. She explained how the Skriker was sometimes invisible but would also appear as a massive black dog with giant paws, its footsteps eerily echoing like "squelchy old shoes walking in the mud." Sophie captivated the children with the chilling details of how the Skriker was believed to bring bad luck and, many centuries ago, was thought to prowl the grounds of Whalley Abbey. Sophie wrapped up the session with the idea that everyday places, like the Accrington Viaduct, could be portals to other dimensions or realms.
Eccles: Haunting Histories Sophie took students to Chatmoss, the marshland on which Eccles was built, to meet ... boggarts! Sophie shared how these spirits were said to kidnap babies and replace them with boggart babies and the fear that naming a boggart would give it even more power. Legend also told of Black Shuck, a giant demonic dog that haunted the Manchester area, believed to have been exorcised over 200 years ago. Sophie led the children through Salford to find grotesques—the eerie stone figures perched atop buildings. Unlike gargoyles, which served the practical purpose of directing rainwater, grotesques were crafted solely to ward off evil spirits. Sophie encouraged the children to look up and spot the many grotesques scattered across the city while also looking down to discover the Angel Tunnel, a secretive passageway under Manchester believed to have been used by monks centuries ago. Could these hidden underground tunnels, crypts, and catacombs still hold the secrets of the past? As the session concluded, Sophie posed the idea: could the derelict railway arches in Salford be more than they seem?
East London: The River Fleet and the Green Man On Sophie’s journey through East London, the children were enchanted by the folklore and hidden stories woven into the fabric of the city. They discovered the mysterious River Fleet, once a major waterway that ran through the heart of London before it was concealed beneath the streets. Next, they explored Wapping Woods, near Wapping Docks, a key site in East London’s maritime history. Here, the children heard the tale of the Green Man. Moving closer to the city centre, Sophie introduced students to the fascinating legend of Gog and Magog, the giant guardians of the city of London. The session ended with a look at the folklore surrounding The Bow Bells of East London.
Manchester: Hidden Secrets and Mystical Folklore Sophie took students on a captivating journey through the city’s rich history and supernatural folklore. Their visit to Chetham's Library, one of the oldest public libraries in the UK, provided the perfect backdrop for exploring local legends. Sophie shared the story of Chatmoss marshland and its boggarts—mischievous spirits who, according to local lore, shape-shift into various forms, including sheep and trees. Sophie also revealed the legend of Black Shuck, the giant demonic dog said to haunt Manchester Cathedral. She explained how this fearsome creature was believed to prowl the grounds, its glowing eyes and ghostly presence a warning of misfortune to those who crossed its path. During the session, Sophie introduced the eerie stone figures called grotesques, perched atop local buildings to ward off evil spirits. Students were encouraged to look up and spot the grotesques while remembering to look down as they learned about the hidden passageways and catacombs beneath Manchester, including the mysterious Angel Tunnel.
Preston: Steak and Spectres Sophie’s Magic in the Mundane session in Preston took students on an immersive journey through the city’s unique folklore and legends. One of the standout stories was the famous tale of Sir Loin, a humorous and quirky piece of Preston's history. Legend has it that King James I was so impressed with a particularly fine piece of beef he ate during a banquet at Hoghton Tower that he knighted it ‘Sir Loin’, which is how it got its name!
Sophie brings local legends and folklore to life in schools across the UK and beyond. Whether you teach in a bustling city, a charming town, or a remote village, she will capture the spirit of your area and craft a bespoke, immersive experience for the children in your school.
Why Choose Sophie’s Author Visits for Your School?
Sophie’s Magic in the Mundane is an exciting and educational way to engage children with local legends, creative writing, and historical storytelling. Her school author visits are designed to inspire young minds, encouraging them to see the magic around them and use their imagination to craft their own stories. Sophie’s workshops and storytelling activities are ideal for primary schools, linking perfectly to literacy, history, poetry, legend, folklore and other topics in the curriculum. However, the main objective is to inspire reading for pleasure, igniting children's imaginations and encouraging a lifelong love of books.
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