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| INTRODUCTION |
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| PAST PROJECTS |
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| CURRENT PROJECTS |
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| WORKSHOPS |
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| TOURS & TALKS |
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| RESOURCES |
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| WORK PLACEMENT |
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PROJECT
REPORT:
PRIMARY STORYTELLING PROJECT – SPRING 2007
“If we want children to be able to express
themselves freely and clearly, if we want them to develop their imagination,
language and concentration, to explore feelings and reactions, if we want
them to understand other people and other cultures…we need to tell
them stories”.
Chris Bostock – Storyteller
This project was a partnership project between Newcastle City Council
and Theatre Royal Learning, who jointly commissioned two leading artists
from the region to deliver the project in Newcastle primary schools.
Storyteller Chris Bostock and musician Ken Patterson worked with two Year 3 and 4 classes and their teachers in Regent Farm and Archbishop Runcie First Schools over ten sessions throughout the spring term 2007.
In the sessions, the children listened to and re-told a selection of stories, used music to enhance their storytelling and engaged in a whole host of practical activities including story planning, writing and cross-curricular extension work.
At the end of the project, the children hosted a presentation of their stories to the rest of the school community and their parents.
As part of the project they also saw a performance of Chris and Ken’s show - Tales for the Turning Year and had a visit to the Theatre Royal to see behind the scenes and tell some stories in different inspirational spaces around the building.
The artists and teachers worked together in partnership throughout to plan and develop the direction of the project and link the creative ideas generated by the work to the delivery of the curriculum.
The feedback and evidence from this project has highlighted that some of the benefits upon the children were:
| • | Enhanced speaking and listening skills |
| • | Increased self confidence |
| • | Better levels of concentration |
| • | Developed social skills |
| • | Writing skills improved |
| • | Motivational for the boys |
| • | Improved presentation skills across other curriculum areas |
| • | Excited the imagination |
| • | Improved relationships with peers and other adults |
| • | Stories are a way into delivering a creative curriculum |
They said:
“Because of you I’ve got more inspiration in music and stories”.
“When I read I try and use more expression and make different voices like you”.
“I love Wednesdays. The stories are great and then we have swimming. It is a good day”.
The teachers said:
“It was a privilege to be part of this project and to observe my
children enjoy and flourish from the experiences they were given”.
Jen Sloyan – Archbishop Runcie First School.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with artists of
such professional standing who have shared their art in such a stimulating
and exciting manner”.
Nicky Walter – Regent Farm First School
As a follow up to the project, a storytelling INSET session for other Newcastle primary teachers is planned for autumn 2007 in the Theatre Royal Learning Space.