Category Archives: Additional Support for Learning

“a captivating alternative to full-blown pantos” – accessible theatre available online from Birds of Paradise Theatre

BOP Theatre’s new work The Tin Soldier, at The Studio, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 7th-23rd December is a new adaptation of an old tale by award-winning children’s writer Mike Kenny.

It is an accessible show, integrating captions, BSL and audio description, designed mainly with 5-9 year olds in mind (and the older people and siblings that come with them).  The show has been designed by a Russian designer Victor Nikonenko and includes puppets and new live music from Scottish duo Novasound.

What is on offer?

If you are in Edinburgh we would love you to come see it but we understand this is not accessible to everyone! For those that cannot come in person we are making a broadcast version of it available to all schools in Scotland in the week commencing the 18th December.

How does it work?

We will provide you with a link to a as live film of the show that you can show to a class or larger group.  The film will have captions on it and BSL is integrated into the performance.

Is there a charge?

No, but we would appreciate a donation of £25 in line with our campaign of fundrasign for our 25th Anniversary year which is next year.

What other resources to you have?

  1. An info sheet attached
  2. An easy read script synopsis
  3. Links to listen to the music
  4. Disability focused short films aimed at children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9Yc2AlqLQ&t=6s

What do I do next?

Get in touch with all@boptheatre.co.uk to register interest and we will provide you with a link and answer any questions you have.

About BOP

Birds of Paradise Theatre are a Glasgow based company that have traditionally made work for adult audiences that embeds access and creates opportunities for disabled writers, directors and performers.  Over the last five years the company has been disability led and has made varied work that has taken place in Scotland, UK, Spain, Hing Kong and Russia.

 

The Tin Soldier -‘live’ accessible theatre performance from Birds of Paradise – primary schools

BOP Theatre’s new work The Tin Soldier, at The Studio, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 7th-23rd December is a new adaptation of an old tale by award-winning children’s writer Mike Kenny.

It is an accessible show, integrating captions, BSL and audio description, designed mainly with 5-9 year olds in mind (and the older people and siblings that come with them).  The show has been designed by a Russian designer Victor Nikonenko and includes puppets and new live music from Scottish duo Novasound.

What is on offer?

If you are in Edinburgh we would love you to come see it but we understand this is not accessible to everyone! For those that cannot come in person we are making a broadcast version of it available to all schools in Scotland in the week commencing the 18th December.

How does it work?

We will provide you with a link to a as live film of the show that you can show to a class or larger group.  The film will have captions on it and BSL is integrated into the performance.

Is there a charge?

No, but we would appreciate a donation of £25 in line with our campaign of fundrasign for our 25th Anniversary year which is next year.

What other resources to you have?

  1. An info sheet attached
  2. An easy read script synopsis
  3. Links to listen to the music
  4. Disability focused short films aimed at children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9Yc2AlqLQ&t=6s

What do I do next?

Get in touch with all@boptheatre.co.uk to register interest and we will provide you with a link and answer any questions you have.

About BOP

Birds of Paradise Theatre are a Glasgow based company that have traditionally made work for adult audiences that embeds access and creates opportunities for disabled writers, directors and performers.  Over the last five years the company has been disability led and has made varied work that has taken place in Scotland, UK, Spain, Hing Kong and Russia.

 

Out to Play Teacher CPD Opportunities & Resources this Autumn

Following on from a successful Out to Play pilot project in 2015, winner of the Glasgow City Council Environmental Initiative Award 2016, Eco Drama will run a series of 7 week creative outdoor learning residencies this autumn with 4 primary schools, marking the beginning of a 4 year project in 25 primary schools and nurseries across Greater Glasgow.

Out to Play is a creative learning project in which Drama Artists collaborate with partner Primary Schools and Nurseries to explore the role of Drama, Storytelling and Theatre in Outdoor Learning. The project seeks to facilitate interaction with the natural world through quality artistic experiences, re-thinking traditional views of nature and noticing and appreciating nature on our doorstep. Sessions are tailored to the unique surroundings of each school, and through imaginative play and adventurous learning, Out to Play aims to deepen young people’s connection to our natural world.

Out to Play Teacher CPD Opportunities 2017

As part of the project, Eco Drama are delivering Teacher CPD sessions, which were a popular element of the 2015 pilot project and which may be of interest in engaging teachers from your school in outdoor learning.

Eco Drama will be running an after school twilight CPD session on Wednesday 27th September at Dalmarnock Primary School, delivered by Ben Mali Macfadyen, the Drama Artist who delivered the Out to Play pilot project in 2015 and who led on the creation of the Eco Drama Out to Play Resource Pack. Additional CPD dates will likely be added on Tuesday 26th and/or 28th September.

During the session, teachers will explore how to integrate outdoor learning into the school curriculum and how to utilize creative learning methods such as drama, storytelling, song and movement in order to engage learners with the natural environment. Participating teachers will also leave with an Out to Play Outdoor Learning Resource Pack.

 Reviews: “I hadn’t realised the power of imagination within outdoor learning. Really informative session, lots of ideas to start with. Thank you.” Irene Boyle, Corpus Christi Primary

“Best CPD event I have been to in ages.” Catriona Brown, Battlefield Primary

“Excellent ideas and superb resource which I intend to use ASAP.” Ellie Henderson, Knightswood Primary

The cost is £45 per teacher, which includes the Out to Play Resource Pack (usual retail cost £16). Each CPD event is limited to 20 attendees and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

At the moment Eco Drama are gathering notes of interest from teachers who would like to attend this CPD event.  If this is of interest to your school, please email nina@ecodrama.co.uk detailing how many teachers you would send and confirming if the 26th, 27th or 28th September would be suitable.

Alternatively, Eco Drama could visit your school with a dedicated CPD session for all of your teachers to attend. If this option is of interest, please get in touch with emily@ecodrama.co.uk / 0141 552 9920 to discuss.

“A wonderful experience for the children and myself. A fresh look on how to develop Outdoor Learning in a more creative manner. Fantastic experience.” Tommy Hynes, Teacher, Corpus Christi Primary, participating school in pilot project 2015

Website: www.ecodrama.co.uk  Twitter: @EcoDrama1
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1lFBjDg

Short film about Out to Play 2015: https://vimeo.com/141887997

YDance opportunities – October

Y Dance’s October Newsletter is now available including:

  • Free professional development day for Dance Leaders led by dance artists from acclaimed inclusive dance company Candoco
  • Dancers from DeLoopers Dance (Bremen, Germany), Stichting Keunstwerk (Leeuwarden, Netherlands) and AAICC (Granada, Spain) are working with our own Horizons youth dance company at Glasgow Clyde College Anniesland campus.
  • Horizons is also recruiting. The Glasgow-based integrated youth dance company is seeking new members to participate in choreographic workshops and performance opportunities.
  • Saturday 4th March 2017 is the newly-confirmed date for the 2017 DESTINATIONS youth dance showcase.  Applications will open at the end of October.

You can read the full newsletter here:

http://dmtrk.net/7KA-4AYUU-A5NOAOGO20/cr.aspx

 

August and September 2016 with GFT – including FREE screenings

This year the TAKE 1 ACTION Film Festival Screenings of SHORTS FOR PRIMARIES and SONITA for Secondaries will be hosted by our wonderful partners at PLATFORM. Take a look below for more details and to make a booking.  Bookings are still made via the GFT Website, just select the film that you want to see and visit our School Booking Page to make your booking, as normal.

We also have some fantastic out-of-school-time learning offers for your children and young people.

 

http://us11.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2f5e81f209058ceab1da2a3f8&id=77824e9ec5&e=13db8157b5

 

#DareToDream: Invitation to All Schools

We  invite all schools to be a part of our storytelling festival local campaign this year, #DaretoDream. The campaign is an outreach initiative running from September to November, book-ending and running alongside our Scottish International Storytelling Festival (a ten day festival running from Friday 21st—Monday 31st October).

By taking part, your school will be contributing to a Scotland-wide initiative inviting and creating space for children to imagine their personal and collective futures, which in turn will build confidence to begin to make these aspirations and ambitions a reality.

We hope that this initiative is an easy way to progress creative learning in your school community with maximum impact, at the same time creating a positive and inclusive experience for pupils.

“Discover the stories of the past and dream the stories of the future. What are the stories of your local place? What stories would you tell to the world today, from the future of your dreams? Everything created must first be imagined: explore the possible and Dare to Dream!”

The principles of creative learning, active learning and inclusion are embedded in this project. Through dreaming, the liberating power of the imagination is open to everyone – neither language nor disability are barriers to participation. The campaign is relevant to the entire school and to every subject area. Activities will also help meet outcomes in both Literacy and Health and Wellbeing.

Download our Storytelling and creative learning booklet here

In an ever-changing world, we believe that it is vital that children are educated about their role and the value they have in shaping a vibrant and sustainable future. By setting learning in the context of your local school and focusing on issues relevant to your pupils, our #DareToDream campaign provides a great opportunity for you to encourage children to think about their right to participate, empowering and enabling them to become active citizens, both locally and globally. We provide the context for learning and suggest tasks and activities, but there is no limit on where this engaging topic could be taken in the classroom.

We will run a #DareToDream social media campaign during the main Scottish International Storytelling Festival. During this period we will make visible all contributions via our online platform. This is an opportunity to showcase your own school’s contribution with the wider community should you so wish in the form of a blog, video, photographs or otherwise.

As part of our social media campaign, we will have a special #DareToDream Day on Thursday 27th October.  On this day, we will encourage every creative citizen in Scotland to share a dream for the future on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the campaign hashtags. Our aim is to make visible Scotland’s collective imagination for all to see!

#DareToDream   #CuirBrighRiBruadar   #DaurTaeDream

HOW TO TAKE PART:

We have made it as simple as possible for teachers to take part, with the options for engaging in more depth should the individual teacher so wish. In a secondary school context, we have suggested a simple activity that could take place in registration class.

Register your school here

Download our #DareToDream Schools Toolkit here

We have also worked in partnership with  heritage organisations, mental health organisations, artists and storytellers to create simple resources for you to use. All additional learning resources will be available on our website before the end of August.

www.daretodream.scot

Please contact Mairi mairi@scottishstorytellingcentre.com if you have any questions.

Y Dance Newsletter – free dance courses and opportunities for learners

YDance is coming to Orkney to deliver a FREE week-long dance course at Kirkwall Grammar School for 12 to 18 year olds.

Auditions for the 2016/2017 National Youth Dance Company of Scotland will take place on Saturday 10 September and applications will open on Monday 25 July.

Applications are now open for the annual YDance Routes Connections weekend.  This three day event welcomes youth dance groups from across Scotland to come together to expand their dance knowledge and skills. 

New integrated youth dance company Horizons has been working with a YDance choreographer since March 2016.  The Company is part of the overarching European Let’s Dance project YDance is delivering with partners from Netherlands, Germany and Spain and has been creating a new dance piece based on the theme of migration.

View the full details and more news in the latest Y-Dance newsletter here:

http://dmtrk.net/7KA-3SLYZ-9C850S8XA0/cr.aspx

 

CLPL Opportunities from YDance – early learning, primary, secondary and highers

Dance for Primary Children

Tuesday 26 April 2016

9.30am – 4pm

£75 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1 QW.

Come and explore what dance could be in your classroom.  Using simple games, tasks and sequences your YDance tutor will help you achieve the Curriculum for Excellece experiences and outcomes required for planning your dance session for early – upper primary.

 

Dance for Early Years

Monday 25 April 2016

9.30am – 4pm

£75 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1QW

Develop your teaching skills for delivering dance for early years children in this one day course covering creative ideas for dance classes inspired by stories and topics, planning and structuring a lesson plan or creative workshop and using props and music.

 

Inclusive Dance Practice for Teachers Working in ASN Settings

Thursday 28 April 2016

9.30am – 4pm

£75 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1QW.

Develop your teaching skills for delivering dance effectively with children and young people with additional support needs.  In this one day course you will explore –

  • Methods of Inclusive Dance
  • Creative ideas for pupils with and without additional support needs
  • Planning and structuring a lesson plan/creative workshop

 

Dance for Core PE for Secondary Teachers

Wednesday 27 April 2016

9.30am – 4pm

£75 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1QW.

With a focus on contemporary and street dance styles learn how to warm up your pupils, play creative dance games, teach a simple sequence, develop a sequence, use stimulus to create dance material and encourage your pupils to develop their confidence, creativity and co-operation skills. These sessions for secondary teachers also address some of the CfE Health and Well-being outcomes.

 

Nat 5 Dance

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 different dance styles and choreography to achieve this national qualification. Choose from the options listed below to build your own National 5 Dance course.

(Please note the National 5 Choreography & Contemporary days are fully booked however we are happy to take your details and add you to a reserve list)

  • Contemporary, Monday 9 May 2016 – Fully Booked
  • Jazz, Tuesday 10 May 2016
  • Choreography (SQA Mandatory Unit), Wednesday 11 May 2016 – Fully Booked
  • Hip hop, Thursday 12 May 2016

All courses will run from 9.30am – 4pm.

Mad Studios, 13 Main St, Coatbridge ML5 3AJ

Costs

National 5 single day costs – £85 (+ VAT)

Choreographic DVD – £95 (+ VAT)

OR

YDance National 5 Package costs £300 (+ VAT).  This includes 2 dance style days, the Choreography day and a copy of the Choreographic DVD resource.

 

Higher Dance

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 contrasting dance styles and choreography to achieve this national qualification. Choose from the options listed below to build your own Higher Dance course.

Two days are allocated to each style to allow time for technique class, exploration of sequences and support to develop a centre set performance solo, meeting the outcomes set out in the Higher Dance Performance unit. Two days are allocated for Choreography to cover the Higher Dance Practice Activity Assessment requirements and to demonstrate the progression through the learning outcomes.

Training Courses Available

  • Contemporary Technique, Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 May 2016
  • Jazz Technique, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 May 2016
  • Choreography Unit (SQA Mandatory Unit), Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 May 2016
  • Hip hopWednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May 2016

All courses run from 9.30am – 4pm.

Mad Studios, 13 Main St, Coatbridge ML5 3AJ

Costs

Higher Dance single unit costs – £150 (+ VAT) per 2 day course

Choreographic DVD – £95 (+ VAT)

OR

YDance Higher Dance Package costs £500 (+VAT).  This includes 2 dance style courses (2 days each), the 2 day Choreography course and a copy of the Choreographic DVD resource.

 

 

YDance – range of CPD opportunities

  • DANCE FOR CORE PE
  • NATIONAL 5 DANCE
  • NATIONAL PROGRESSION AWARD IN DANCE (SCQF Level 4)
  • HIGHER DANCE
  • INCLUSIVE DANCE PRACTICE DAY
  • DANCE FOR NURSERY EDUCATION

 

DANCE FOR CORE PE

With a focus on Contemporary and Streetdance styles learn how to warm up your pupils, play creative dance games, teach a simple sequence, develop a sequence, use stimulus to create dance material and encourage the participants to develop their confidence, creativity and co-operation skills. These sessions also address some of the CfE Health and Wellbeing outcomes.

Friday 29 May, 9.30am to 4pm at Mad Studios – £85 (Look out for our special discount codes or recommend a friend)

 

NATIONAL 5 DANCE

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 different dance styles and choreography to achieve this national qualification. Choose from the options listed below to build your own National 5 Dance course:

Contemporary – Mon 11 May Jazz – Tue 12 May Hip-hop – Wed 13 May Choreography – Thu 14 May

Individual Costs – £85

YDance National 5 Package – £285

(includes 2 dance style days, the Choreography day and a copy of the Choreographic DVD resource)

Each of these sessions take place at Mad Studios from 9.30am to 4pm (Mad Studios, 13 Main Street, Coatbridge, ML5 3AJ)

NATIONAL PROGRESSION AWARD IN DANCE (SCQF Level 4)

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 different dance styles and choreography to achieve the award. Choose from the options listed below to build your own NPA Dance course:

Contemporary – Tue 5 May Jazz – Wed 6 May Choreography – Thu 7 May Classical (Ballet) – Fri 8 May Alternative (Hip-hop) – Fri 15 May

Individual Costs – £85

YDance NPA Package – £225

(includes 2 dance style days and the Choreography day)

Each of these sessions takes place at Mad Studios from 9.30am to 4pm

HIGHER DANCE

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 contrasting dance styles and choreography to achieve this national qualification. Choose from the options listed below to build your own Higher Dance course.

Contemporary – Mon 18 May + Wed 20 May (am) Jazz – Tue 19 May + Wed 20 May (pm) Hip-hop – Tue 26 May + Wed 27 May (am) Choreography – Thu 21 May + Fri 22 May

Individual Costs – £85

YDance Higher Dance Package – £450

(This includes 2 dance style courses (1.5 days each), the 2 day Choreography course and a copy of the Choreographic DVD resource)

One and a half days are allocated to each style to allow time for technique class, exploration of sequences and support to develop a centre set performance solo, meeting the outcomes set out in the Higher Dance Performance unit. Two days are allocated for Choreography to cover the Higher Dance Practice Activity Assessment requirements and to demonstrate the progression through the learning outcomes.

All sessions take place at Mad Studios 13 Main Street, Coatbridge, ML5 3AJ

INCLUSIVE DANCE PRACTICE DAY

Develop your teaching skills for delivering dance with children and young people with additional support needs in this one day course:

  1. Methods of inclusive practice
  2. Creative ideas for pupils with and without additional support needs
  3. Planning & structuring a lesson plan / creative workshop

Wednesday 29 April, 9.30am to 3.30pm – £85 (Look out for our discounts or recommend a friend for 10% off)

 

DANCE FOR NURSERY EDUCATION

Develop your teaching skills for delivering dance with early years children:

  1. Creative ideas for dance classes inspired by stories and topics
  2. Planning and structuring a lesson plan / creative workshop
  3. Using props and music

Thursday 28 May, 9.30am to 3.30pm – £85 (Look out for our discounts or recommend a friend and receive 10% off)