Elaine’s visit to Oakfield Junior School, Fetcham, Surrey
Planning a Charlie Farley story of their own using the Story Mountain Plan
VENUE: Oakfield Junior school Fetcham, Surrey
AUDIENCE: Y3, Y4, Y5 in their classrooms, two classes per year. Y6 classes together in Hall with clipboards, paper, empty story mountain plan and pencils.
MEDIA: Video of real dogs and PowerPoint on memory stick connected to classroom desktop and monitor
LENGTH of SESSIONS: 40 mins each class
CONTENT: For each of Y3,Y4,Y5 in Classrooms and Y6 in Hall.
Background to how I came to write stories starting from when I was their age!
Team work to produce a book - Author, Illustrator, Publisher
The process of writing a story, showing my scribblings, communication between the Author and Illustrator as the pictures build up to the final version, drafting, re-drafting etc.
Video of the real dogs showing aspects of them that are related in the stories
Live story telling of one of my books including questions before, during and after to explore the story and the theme.
Any questions for me?
Writing task, structuring their own story about Charlie Farley and Jasper using the 5 part Story Mountain plan after having seen example from the book I read to them.
Class teachers carried on the stories after I had left.
SCHOOL’S PREPARATION and SUPPORT agreed in return for no charge for visit:
A copy of each of Elaine’s published Charlie Farley books bought for the school
Agreed Story Mountain plan sheets printed off for each class after discussion about content with Elaine
Email letter to parents the week before, on the day as a reminder and after with details of author’s visit with details about pre-ordering books before visit or buying books at Home Time on the day. Elaine’s web site given so parents can have a look before or after the day. Books kept after Elaine’s visit for 1 week in case any parents had missed getting them.
Staff and Children reviews and photos sent to Elaine afterwards
What the Staff and Children said about the visit!
TEACHERS
Yr 3 - Such a well organised workshop. Elaine was great with the children, so calm and listened to each child so well.
Yr 4 - Loved the meaning behind each books and how Elaine's own pets and grandchildren are the inspiration for her stories
Yr 5 - Such an informative workshop with lovely stories. Elaine had great behaviour management with the pupils
Yr 6 - Loved watching the video of Elaine's dogs at the start of the workshop and seeing how this inspires her stories
Reviews from Children
Pupil 1 - I found the illustrations fascinating and loved seeing how Elaine turns her notes into a story
Pupil 2 - I think this might be my best story yet that I have planned from Elaine's story
