Children’s Literature in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom - London & Edinburgh

On Campus: CD Mod; March 13 - May 9, Day & Time TBD
Off Campus: May 14 - May 30, 2024

Program Highlights

  • Visit museums and castles across Scotland and England
  • Travel to Great Missenden, home of Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author Roald Dahl, and learn about his life as a writer
  • Visit Oxford and learn about writers and their inspiration for children’s stories such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, His Dark Materials, Lord of the Rings, and many others
  • Hike Ashdown Forest, the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood in the Winnie the Pooh stories
  • Meet contemporary authors, illustrators, and publishers in the United Kingdom and learn about their careers
  • Visit the Seven Stories Centre children’s literature museum and archive in Newcastle, England
  • Fulfills education major requirement, Human Experience Way of Thinking (HE), Global Engagement (GLO) and Experiential Learning (EXP)

Explore complete United Kingdom - London & Edinburgh Embedded Program details on CSB/SJU Global Portal.


Students outside the Edinburgh Castle

Course & Program Information

Course Name: Embedded Children’s Literature in the United Kingdom

Course Number:  EDUC 214

Credit Number:  4 credits

Integrations Curriculum designation: Way of Thinking - Human Experience (HE), Global Engagement (GLO), Experiential Engagement (EXP)

Education Major Requirement:  Substitute for EDUC 215-Literature for Children and Adolescents K-8, a required course for elementary education majors and will meet several of the Minnesota Elementary Education Standards for Teacher Preparation

Please note: This program is open to ALL majors and minors; you do not need to be an education student to apply!

Course Description

Some of the most captivating, imaginative and magical stories written for children come from the United Kingdom.  During the travel portion of this embedded study abroad program we will spend time in vibrant and historic metropolises like London and Edinburgh, as well as picturesque and peaceful rural destinations, such as Ashdown Forest.  Our itinerary will take us through the enchanted cities and countryside of England and Scotland to numerous children’s literature destinations.  We will explore social, political, and cultural forces that shape children’s writing and publishing in the United Kingdom, study the fantasy genre, and discuss the value of magical stories for child development.  Most importantly, we will read and discuss many wonderful examples of fantasy literature written for children! 


Students enjoying the streets of London

Course Information and Learning

This embedded course will be taught during CD mod on campus, followed by the international immersion to United Kingdom, London and Edinburgh. 

Throughout this course has many learning goals including: 

  • How the unique cultural heritage of the United Kingdom informs the stories produced for children, including history and geographic setting
  • Analysis of the various social, political, and cultural forces that impact the writing, publishing, and reading of children’s literature, and comparison of variations between the United States and the United Kingdom
  • How literature written for children can be used to explore social issues such as systems of privilege and oppression, and how this can prepare young people for participating in a global community


Students before the West End Musical "Matilda"

Program Cost & Financial Considerations

Students on an embedded program will pay an education program fee in addition to the cost of attendance for the semester. Program fee information is available on our cost website under short-term programs. Learn more  can find more information about what is included and not included on the program on the CSB/SJU Global Portal.  

Students should plan early for a successful study abroad experience. Financial aid and scholarships may be available to help with program costs, but must be searched out well in advance.  

Accommodations

During our 10-day stay in London we will be living in Arcadia University student residence in shared rooms. These accommodations include shared kitchen facilities, common living spaces, linens and towels, and pay-as-you-go laundry.  Take a video tour.  In Edinburgh we will be staying in a hotel or the University of Edinburgh’s Pollock Hall.  Breakfast will be included in our Edinburgh accommodations.   

Program Director Information

Madeleine Israelson, PhD, is a former elementary school teacher and is now an associate professor in the Education Department. She led this trip in 2018 and in 2022. She believes that good literature, especially magical stories, can help us understand ourselves, each other, and our world in deeply meaningful ways. A good book, especially one written for kids, can inspire readers to change the world!

Contact: Madeleine Israelson

Students in the home of "Winnie the Pooh" in Ashwood Forest