I have been an SLT co-ordinating English, dance, drama and music. I have covered PPA by delivering drama and dance to children from EYFS - Y6. I have delivered INSET on drama, dance and music both in schools and at a county level. I have delivered the drama module for B.Ed students at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford.
I write children's poems and have had some published in compilations. I have written drama and dance lessons based on poetry, for Early Years Educator and Scholastic.
I have been an SLT co-ordinating English, dance, drama and music. I have covered PPA by delivering drama and dance to children from EYFS - Y6. I have delivered INSET on drama, dance and music both in schools and at a county level. I have delivered the drama module for B.Ed students at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford.
I write children's poems and have had some published in compilations. I have written drama and dance lessons based on poetry, for Early Years Educator and Scholastic.
Three drama lessons based on Michael Morpurgo's beautiful book about a wombat who loses his mother.
He comes across several animals as he looks for his mother, and they are all very quick to tell him how good they are at something. However, when a fire starts is it one of these clever animals that saves the day - or wombat?
The drama lessons require the children to work individually and in groups. They also use basic drama strategies.
This is a pack of five lessons for K.S.1 children, based on the weather. Each lesson can stand-alone. Each lesson ends with a whole class dance, which if done with a smaller group of children could easily be used in an assembly.
CLASS DANCE
Each of these lessons culminates in a whole class dance. The movements required for the dance are taught, and built up throughout the lesson. This means that by the end of each lesson you will have a small performance should you choose to use it. A cut down version – using a small group of children - could easily be performed in an assembly.
MUSIC
The pack uses music in every lesson; whether it be simple percussion instruments or recorded music. The suggested recorded music is listed below:
• 'The Snow is Dancing' by Debussy
• 'Summertime' by Gershwin
• CD – BBC Essential Weather Sound Effects - Track 33 'Low - Pitched Wind'
• 'The Planets' by Gustav Holst – 'Mars'
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED:
• Tambour & beater
• Maraca
• Tambourine
• cymbals
Rain: looks at the effect the rain has on a flower. Looks at the movement of the actual rain.
Snow: looks at the movement of snow. Looks at snowdrifts, which the children create in pairs.
Sun: looks at the effect the sun has on our body. Looks at how actions can be turned into movements.
Wind: looks at the effect the wind has on a kite. Looks at the movement of the actual wind.
Storm: looks at the movements of clouds, rain and lightening in a storm
This is a short humorous play initially written for use with my drama club. I then went on to use it in the Year 6 leavers' assembly.
It has seven characters, as well as a chorus that can be as large or as small as you like. The costumes are simply hats, and the list of props is very short and simple.
It appeals to both boys and girls as it contains very obvious humour, as well as over the top characters.
A set of three stand-alone dance lessons based on three different fairy tales. Each lesson culminates in a whole dance.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears - a dance lesson using percussion instruments
The Enormous Turnip - a dance lesson using The Carnival of the Animals - Tortoises
Jack and the Beanstalk - a dance lesson using individual and group work
ENVIRONMENT WHOLE CLASS ASSEMBLY
Included in this pack:
A short play
An original poem (PPT slides and a written version)
I’m An Eco-Warrior, Get Me Into There!
This is a play for a class of 30 children and is about four environmental issues: forests, rivers, ice caps and oceans. Each issue is represented in a game show by an Eco-Warrior. Each issue has a rap to perform and a group of Fact Finders. The Fact Finders each have a short paragraph of facts to say.
Every child has the chance to speak, either with scripted dialogue or through the rap. There are scripted dialogue lines for 22 children and the other children are involved in the raps. You could also add more presenters and share the dialogue out between them.
I have included the script as a word document so changes can be made to accommodate more or less speaking parts. Fact Finders can be added to by sharing the dialogue out more, or cut down by giving each Fact Finder more to say. Rappers can also be added to or cut down. One rapper from each environmental issue also has a single line of dialogue.
As well as the whole play I have included the Fact Finder scripts and raps separately for ease of chopping them up, so you don’t have to give everyone the full script.
Once Upon a Time There Was a Planet… is a 12 stanza non-rhyming poem about the affects we’re having on the environment. It’s presented as a 13 slide power point presentation, with powerful images. There is a written version included too.
The poem is ideal for individual, paired, group or whole class work and would make an excellent addition to your class assembly.
The first half illustrates how wonderful our planet is and the second half illustrates the devastating affect humans are having on the planet.
This unit is ideal for poetry work as well as P.S.H.E. The unit is supported by a 25 slide PPT presentation, as well as resource sheets and five original poems.
The Red Hot Feeling - anger (a four stanza rhyming poem)
I Fear... - fear (a seven stanza non-rhyming poem covering various things a child is scared of eg not being picked, falling out with friends, walking home alone etc)
Please Someone Try to Change It - loneliness (a four stanza non-rhyming poem covering a child with no friends and not understanding why)
Draining Hope Away - sadness (a one stanza non-rhyming poem using similes)
A Cosy Feeling of Warmth - happiness (a four stanza rhyming poem covering various things that make children happy)
There is a list of general activities to use with all of the poems, as well as specific activities for each individual poem.
A pack of five original poems using Christmas as their stimulus, for K.S.1 and K.S.2. There are general activities which can be used with all of the poems, as well as specific activities for some of them. The poems are supported with a 43 slide power point presentation.
I Looked Outside - a rhyming poem about a snowfall in the night
No Crown of Jewels - a rhyming poem about the birth of Jesus, and the truth about Christmas rather than the glitz
It's Christmas! - a rhyming poem using a different Christmas element for each stanza, for example; the tree, Santa and a present. This poem also follows an obvious pattern
What? - a rhyming poem comparing the baby Jesus to the latest toy that children desperately want at Christmas
Yes, Yes, Yes It Is! - a non-rhyming question and answer (verse and chorus) poem, again with an obvious pattern.
This is an original story poem telling the tale of ‘Jonah and the Whale’.
It has 11 eight line, rhyming stanzas.
This pack includes a 12 slide PPT presentation of the poem, as well as a written version.
It is ideal for telling the children this familiar story; doing do succinctly and with humour. It could also be used as the basis for a whole class assembly.
This pack contains 11 drama lessons based on four popular fairy tales. It is accompanied by 16 resources and a 13 slide PPT presentation.
There are full descriptions of the drama strategies used.
1) The Three Billy Goats Gruff - two lessons based on script work. The strategies used are freeze frames, and performing a script as well as creating their own. There is also a short script for the whole story, which could be used for an assembly.
2) Jack & the Beanstalk - three lessons. The strategies used are: corporate brain, conscience alley, freeze frames, improvisation, movement to music, mime and T.I.R.
3) Dick Whittington - three lessons. A short version of the story is included. The strategies used are: hot seating, improvisation, freeze frames, mime, scripts and picture whoosh!
4) Little Red Riding Hood - three lessons. A full, new version of the story is included. The strategies used are: sculpture, improvisation, conscience alley, hot seating, thought circle, freeze frames and moving pictures
This is a play suitable for an end of year production or Year 6 leavers' assembly. It lasts about 30 minutes. It is set in the modern day which makes the story more accessible to the children. It is amusing and appeals to both boys and girls.
There are 24 speaking parts (including 11 narrators which could be condensed into less) and non-speaking parts for the football fans, the rock group, the storm sequence and the underwater sequence.
Music suggestions are made for the various sequences and these can be kept very basic or choreographed as full dances. Costume is left up to you as it is set in modern day.
This is a dance lesson based on the different movements of a bee, and uses individual and group work. It culminates in a whole dance.
The music used is The Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov.
This is the first in a series of dance lessons using minibeasts as their stimulus.
This is a pack of five dance lessons for K.S.1, based on the theme of Toys. There is also a resource pack and a PPT presentation to support it. Ideally an actual toy should be used for each lesson, but if this isn't possible, the picture resource provided will do.
Each lesson uses music and the two CDs required are:
'The Synthesizer Album' by Project D & 'Children's Games' by Bizet
The pack includes an original poem called 'The Toy Box' which isn't referred to in the lessons, but is there as an extra resource if required. Each verse corresponds to a lesson, and the individual verses are included in the PPT presentation.
Each lesson culminates in a whole class dance, with the movements for the dance being taught in the lesson. This gives you a short performance at the end of each lesson and, if done with a smaller group of children, can be used in an assembly.
Puppet: looks at the jerky movements of a puppet
Rubber Ball: looks at the different movements of a ball
Robotic Toy: looks at the stiff movements of a robotic toy
Kite: looks at the gentle movements of a kite
Rag Doll: looks at the floppy movements of a rag doll. Includes partner work
This unit uses three traditional stories from Spain, Poland and Norway.
Copies of the three stories are included.
SPAIN: Half-a-Chick - This story has three accompanying drama lessons and covers body language, tone of voice, conversations, characters' thoughts & feelings and the giving & receiving of feedback. The drama strategies used are: listening circle, improvisation and conscience alley.
POLAND: The Dragon of Krakow - This story has two accompanying drama lessons and covers creating a setting, role work and whole class performance. The drama strategies used are: sculpture, process drama, T.I.R., moving pictures and scene carousel.
NORWAY: The Boy Who Went to the North Wind - This story has three accompanying drama lessons and covers the use of effects to illustrate key points in a scene. The drama strategy used is scripts
If you want to learn more about drama strategies take a look at my pack of 23 strategies for £5
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/drama-strategies-primary-23-strategies-for-the-non-specialist-to-develop-speaking-and-listening-11602421
This pack is simply two poems with no lessons attached.
Robbie Likes to Choose - a story about a little boy who won't listen to his parents when they try to tell him to eat healthily
Grubble and Squeak - two cute characters try to get the children to live their lives like them; one lives a healthy life, the other one lives unhealthily
Included:
- a PDF of the two poems
- a PPT presentation of the two poems plus illustrations
This is a pack of 23 drama strategies. Each strategy is fully explained and has examples for every relevant stage of the primary age range - I am a primary school teacher. However, these strategies are just as suitable in secondary schools, and they can ALL be used in a secondary setting. The strategy remains the same, it's just the topic or text that has to be changed for the older age groups.
The strategies have been selected for the non-specialist to use, and focus on the development of speaking & listening. The pack is ideal for EAL children.
There are two types of strategy:
1) Speaking is the end goal
2) The actual drama process relies on speaking & listening for its success
Where required, resources are provided to accompany the strategies.
There are several short script excerpts included.
This pack is based on two Greek myths, and each myth has three lessons. Various drama strategies are used as well as individual, paired, group and whole class work. The drama strategies are all explained, and there are also tips for using the pack.
Resource sheets and PPT slides are included where necessary.
Both myths come with an original version of the story.
King Midas and the Golden Touch:
Lesson 1: creating a conversation; improvising, planning and rehearsing an ‘off-stage’ scene
Uses - improvisation and dialogue
Lesson 2: considering what a character should do and what he thinks; creating a conversation
Uses - thought tapping and hot seating
Lesson 3: improvising a group scene; considering what a character should do and what he thinks; creating an ending for the story
Uses - hot seating, improvisation and conscience alley
Theseus and the Minotaur:
Lesson 1: using body language and tone of voice; considering what a character thinks; thinking, speaking and reacting in role
Uses - freeze frames, thought tapping, conscience alley and T.I.R.
Lesson 2: considering a character’s feelings; being in role for a whole class drama; deciding on what will happen next
Uses - hot seating, sculpture, freeze frame and T.I.R.
Lesson 3: choreographing movements; improvising a paired scene, considering a character’s feelings; predicting a character’s actions
Uses - movement, improvisation, hot seating and flash backwards & flash forwards
This is a unit of seven drama lessons for Year 1 based on four popular picture books.
The lessons are accompanied by resource sheets and PPT slides.
Book 1: Hugless Douglas Goes to Little School by David Melling - two lessons using mime, voices and acting out. The lessons incorporate individual, paired and group work
Book 2: Hugless Douglas and the Big Sleep by David Melling - two lessons using mime, voices and thinking about a character's feelings. The lessons incorporate individual, paired, group and whole class work
Book 3: Oliver's Vegetables by Vivian French - two lessons using movement, mime and performance. The lessons incorporate individual, paired and group work
Book 4: Smile, Crocodile, Smile by An Vrombaut - one lesson using mime and thinking about a character's feelings. The lesson incorporates individual and group work.
This is a pack of six original poems - spanning both key stages - using autumn as the stimulus.
Autumn - a rhyming poem about the transition from autumn to winter
Yes, Yes, Yes It Is! - a non-rhyming question and answer poem about autumn
Friend or Foe? - a rhyming poem about Halloween which can be written in three different ways
Crackle! Spit! - a rhyming poem with a pattern, about Bonfire Night. There are two accompanying dance lessons for K.S.1 with this poem
Bonfire Night - a non-rhyming poem which can be written in a straightforward way, or as calligrams
We Dare You To! - a rhyming poem about the dangers of playing with fireworks, and also the issue of wanting to fit in. This has an accompanying Y5/6 drama lesson
The pack includes general activities to do with the poems, as well as specific activities for the individual poems.
There is a 40 slide PPT presentation to support the activities.
This is a unit of five dance lessons based on the jungle and rainforest. Each lesson is individual and will stand alone, however I would recommend that you do ‘The Machines are Coming’ after doing either ‘Rainforest’ by Helen Cowcher or ‘Rainforest Dance’ so you won’t have to use time going over the same animals.
Lesson 1: 'The Jungle' - group dances based on a poem
Lesson 2: The Machines are Coming - whole class dance based on the diggers coming into the rainforest. Uses the CD 'The Art of Noise' but any music with a mechanical, heavy beat will do
Lesson 3: 'Where the Forest Meets the Sea' by Jeannie Baker - whole class dance telling the story of the book
Lesson 4: Rainforest Dance - upbeat dance using the movements of the rainforest animals. Uses CD 'One World - A Musical Journey Around the Globe' but any upbeat piece of music will do
Lesson 5: 'Rainforest' by Helen Cowcher - whole class dance telling the story of the book.
This pack is accompanied by a power point presentation of the resources used in the lesson ‘The Jungle’. If you don’t have an IWB in the hall, the resources are also included in the lesson pack for you to print out.
This is a 12 stanza, non-rhyming poem about the affects humans are having on the environment. The first half is about the wonderful things on the planet, and the second half is about what’s happening to them now.
It is presented as a 13 slide PPT presentation, with each verse having a powerful image as the background. There is also a written version of the poem.
This poem would be ideal for individual, paired, group or whole class poetry, as well as perfect to support work on the environment.