My visit to a school is based on a theme - see the 'in school' section of the website for details. I introduce the theme during the first part of the day, then while children are beavering away in their classrooms I lead workshops with individual classes. I have tried doing these with more than 35 children but although everyone gets to work with the visitor the children do not gain as much as they could. The only workshop suitable for more than one class is number 12 - 'meet a writer'.
When planning the day allow 25 minutes for each workshop with a 5 minute swap over time.
I prefer to base myself in the hall with children coming to me. However, lunch time organisation often means the hall is needed, so workshops that can successfully be done in classrooms are shown below.
The list has a very brief explanation of the content of each workshop, age group each is appropriate for, what its focus is, whether it can be done outside the hall and what, if any, materials need to be provided.
So read on and make your choices. These can be changed at the last minute if need be - as long as you let me know so I can bring the right props with me.
1. hot seating using pictures (yrs 2 - 6). Good for speaking & listening as well as adding depth to characterisation. Can be done in a classroom.
2. freeze frames using pictures (yrs 3-6) Good for expressing how characters might feel and react to different situations.
3. create stories using a story mat (yrs 2-6) Good for verbal editing. Can be done in a classroom.
4. story bags (yrs 1-6) containing ideas to generate stories. Good for sharing ideas and speaking & listening. Needs felt tipped pens and large sheets of sugar paper.
5. generate story ideas (yrs 2-6) by combining unusual characters and quirky settings. Good for generating unexpected ideas to make stories interesting. Can be done in a classroom.
6. planning (yrs 5-6) for stories. Good for helping children see themselves as real writers. Having planning explained from a different angle sometimes helps. can be done in a classroom.
7. stair case poetry (yrs 2-6) sees children putting words together to create a poem about whatever the theme of the day is. Good for less able who need to write in small spaces to achieve. Needs A3 paper, scissors and, if possible, extra adult pairs of hands to help cut out the staircases. Can be done in a classroom.
8. non-fiction writing (yrs 1-6) looks at things people write in different places. Good for non-fiction and revisiting why people write. Needs A4 paper and pencils for yrs 3 upwards and flip chart/white board for KS1 classes.
9. visit a setting (yrs rec-1) where children take a finger puppet to a setting. Good for role play.
10. hot seating by becoming a brain (yrs 4-6) based on De Bono’s hats. Good for adding depth to characterisation. Can be done in a classroom.
11. create a spider’s web story (yrs 1-5) where every child contributes to a story. Good for team work and creating ideas.
12. meet a writer (yrs rec-6) and find out how this one puts a story together. Good for helping children see themselves as real writers. Can be done in a classroom. This workshop can also be suitable for up to 4 classes at one time.
13. hot seating after dressing up (yrs rec-2) when individual children are dressed up and asked questions. Good for exploring characters. Can be done in a classroom.
14. writing in the community (yrs rec-6) begins by looking at a playmat and deciding where writing and drawing might happen and who does it. Children then generate their own writing. This can be done in a classroom.
15. speaking and listening games (yrs rec - 6) is as it says. These can be done in the hall or the classroom.
