20 Apr 2012

Ideas for schools - Objects from Shakespeare's world

Jack Trelawny's Story House - Ideas for schools - Things from the time of William Shakespeare
'Things' or 'objects' from museums (see the first floor of the Story House) can provide lots of ideas for stories. The exhibition of 13 objects for children at the British Museum - from the BBC4 radio series, A History of the World in 100 Objects - is the inspiration for my forthcoming series of books, Thirteen Things.
There is a series of podcasts on BBC Radio 4 at the moment that brings Shakespeare's time to life using objects.
It's called Shakespeare's Restless World and is presented by British Museum Director, Neil MacGregor.
The 20-part series of podcasts looks at the world through the eyes of Shakespeare's audience by exploring objects from that turbulent period in history.
Each of the podcast episodes is quite short, generally less than 15 minutes. The series is essentially aimed at adults but there's potential for story ideas in school (see other links below).
Other Shakespeare links:
BBC / British Museum - Shakespeare's Restless World - Video clips
BBC - Primary History - Famous People - William Shakespeare
BBC - KS3 - English - Shakespeare - Set scenes

A History of the World in 100 Objects / 'Thirteen Things' links
CBBC Relic: Guardians of the Museum A video game involving a hunt for 13 of the 100 Objects
BBC Primary History - World History - 13 Objects - Lesson Plans
Schools Factsheet - a teacher's guide to how schools can get involved in the joint BBC / British Museum 'A History of the World' project

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See you next time in the Story House.


Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...
 

Ideas for Kids - Quotations and the 'W' words

Jack Trelawny's Story House - Ideas for kids - Quotations and the 'W' words
Children from Homefield Prep School reading and finding out
Famous quotations or 'quotes' can give you ideas for stories.

I will be visiting Homefield Preparatory School (Sutton, Surrey SM1 2TE) on 17th September 2012. As with all things, I like to carry out some research and find things out before I do something. I looked at the Homefield Prep School website to find out about them. These three quotes were on the school's home page.

T. S. Eliot - Poet - Nobel Prize Winner - Literature - 1948
"The function of education is happiness." T.S. Eliot
Albert Einstein - Scientist - Nobel Prize Winner - Physics - 1921
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein

"The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary." May B. Smith

Firstly, think carefully about what the words mean. If you're not sure, ask your teacher or someone who might know.
Ask someone who might know
Then find out all you can about the person Who said the quoted words. When did they say them? Where were they at the time? What happened to them in their lives? And after you've asked the four main W word questions, you could also ask, Why did they say the quoted words?

I like to find some pictures of the person who said the quoted words as well. Looking at pictures gives me a 'feel' for a person or place or time and ideas come into my head.

Using the the W words for research into quotations and finding out all about the person with pictures gives me lots of ideas for characters (Who is in the story), settings (When and Where is the story set), and plots (What happens in the story).

You can do the same. Ask lots of questions, look everywhere you can for the answers, and collect pictures to give you more ideas.

As Albert Einstein - one of the cleverest people who has ever lived - said...

'The important thing is not to stop questioning.'



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See you next time in the Story House.


Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...
 

18 Apr 2012

Jack Trelawny Visits to UK Primary Schools - Diary of Tour Dates by Area

The text below is from an email sent by Campion Books to all UK primary schools today, 18 April 2012

Jack Trelawny - FREE Author Visits to Primary Schools

DIARY DATES NOW AVAILABLE FOR UK TOUR OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS

IN SPRING / SUMMER TERMS 2012 AND FOR NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR 2012-13


Over 800 schools already visited - Contact Campion Books (publishers) now
Contact Jane Bennett, Events Manager... E: info@campionpublishing.com Tel: 01992 714369
See BLOG
 for schools and families: www.jacktrelawny.blogspot.com Website: www.jacktrelawny.co.uk


Dear Headteacher / Literacy Co-ordinator,

Children’s author, Jack Trelawny, is currently touring the country, giving FREE 40-minute talks at schools about his Kernowland in Erthwurld adventure series (published by Campion Books for children aged 7-11).
The six novels in the Kernowland in Erthwurld adventure series
See www.jacktrelawny.com for details of his next series, Thirteen Things - 13 stories inspired by the BBC's A History of the World in 100 Objects.
Jack is an experienced presenter and is comfortable speaking to up to 500 children without a sound system
Following our previous correspondence, 25 schools booked for February 2012 and 31 schools booked for March 2012. Jack has been kept very busy visiting these schools. One teacher reviewed the visit as follows...

To Jane Bennett, Events Manager, Campion Books
Dear Jane,I just wanted to e-mail to say how fantastic our visit from Jack Trelawny was yesterday. The children (and staff) found his talk really inspirational and the opportunity to have books signed after the visit was brilliant too. I have been approached by one parent this morning to say that her son, who is usually a reluctant reader, has already read the first ten chapters of the book and had to be pried away from it at bedtime! Another child has come into school this morning with the beginning of a story he is writing which has clearly been influenced by Jack's book and presentation. Please could you pass my thanks on to Jack.
Thank you, Caroline Morgan, Sidmouth Primary School, Devon EX10 9XB

Children imagine their own mixed-up creatures after Jack shows them the Erthwurld 'mutants' in the talk
For more reviews of Jack Trelawny school visits by teachers click on the links at the end of this email.

Around 250 schools requested a visit and it has proved very difficult to accomodate all the requests as there is a wide geographical spread.
Jack often 'opens' libraries, learning centres, etc. and is quite happy to do this by prior arrangement if there is time
Many schools asked if we could arrange things so that Jack's events are known well in advance in order that schools have time to book and plan. We have therefore organised Jack's diary well in advance and the dates he will be in your area for the rest of this academic year and some way into next year are set out below and on the same page as Jack's Events Calendar on our website. Please do apply again if we were not able to accomodate your request after the last correspondence.
Making Treasure Maps in class after the 'Pirates' themed visit
Below are the lists of Free School Visits for the rest of Academic Year 2011-12 and the first part of Academic Year 2012-13. Simply scan the lists to see when Jack will be in your area, check Jack's Events Calendar to see if the date you would like is available, and then contact Jane Bennett to arrange a visit. (Please note the author is visiting some areas more than once in the periods covered so you may like to check the complete listings).
We are currently adding to the author's diary for Spring and Summer Terms 2012, so please respond as soon as possible if you would like a visit this year. The earlier schools respond, the more likely we will be able to plan the diary to fit in all those wanting a visit when the author is next in their area.

We are also planning the diary for next Academic Year 2012-13, so please also respond if you would like to book for the year starting in Autumn Term 2012.
Why book a Jack Trelawny free author visit?

The visits are free. Jack covers the cost of all his own travel, accomodation, and other expenses.

The series has quickly become class reading material in many schools.

The responses from schools have been very enthusiastic:


'The children were spellbound' ‘We were all inspired!’ ‘…books… to get boys reading’ ‘Jack’s show created a brilliant buzz around the school’
‘…many of the children have developed a passion for reading since Jack’s visit’

  • Jack is an experienced children’s presenter.
  • Teachers report that Jack’s visits inspire children to read and write their own stories and his talk addresses many aspects of the curriculum. His Kernowland series is now a top-seller at Waterstone’s.
  • Some schools are calling Kernowland, ‘our getting boys to read book’, although it is equally popular with girls.

Jack has now visited over 800 schools

  • The lively ‘edutainment’ event involves an interactive Powerpoint slideshow.
  • The children enjoy the slides of the characters in the books and the author talks about gathering ideas and how a story is written.
  • Jack can talk to up to 400 children in one session; at larger schools he can do two talks on the same day.

There is, currently, no fee to the school.

In recognition of the fee waiver, we simply ask that parents are made aware of the author visit in advance in order that the children can purchase a book or books on the signing day for the 'Meet the Author' event should they wish to.

There is currently a '3 FOR 2 OFFER' on books for the school visits, which is proving very popular with parents. The new Kernowland audiobooks will be offered at 1/3 off the usual retail price for the school visits.

To make things as simple and straightforward as possible for the school, we provide a letter that is sent home to parents, which incorporates a tick box order form, in our Author Visit Confirmation Pack.

The books are available online or from your nearest Waterstone’s store and all other good booksellers; they have colour maps and are reasonably priced at £6.99.

Signed copies of the Kernowland books, with a dedication to a child by the author, can be purchased online direct from our website with free delivery.

The stories are now also available as ebooks for Kindle, Ipad, Iphone, PC, etc., and can be downloaded from Amazon.co.uk and other internet retailers such as Tescoebooks.com. The Amazon Kindle books have a free Look Inside! option so you can read the first few chapters.

The stories are currently being recorded in Audiobook format by West End and Broadway actor, Tom Solomon. The first 12 chapters of Kernowland 1 The Crystal Pool are available to listen online or download free from Tom's website.

For more info about Jack Trelawny and reviews of his school visits by teachers , also see the author’s blog www.jacktrelawny.blogspot.com.

The first two chapters of Book 1 can be printed off for class reading here.

We have just begun quizzing the books. See quizzes here.

Lots of schools have provided very positive feedback about the Jack Trelawny author visits.
View the comments here or click on the links below...


'The children were spellbound'
'We... would recommend him without reservation to any school you would like to refer to us.'
‘We were all inspired!’ 
'His presentation was very visual; he has certainly fired the children's imagination...'
'He...was an absolute star...' 
'Jack’s show created a brilliant buzz around the school' 
'The teachers really liked the points you made...'
'The event was a big success... fantastic morning.' 
'Helps our literacy classes...'
'...many of the children have developed a passion for reading since Jack's last visit.'
'Exactly what a reading school should look and sound like.'
'Jack's books are constantly being taken out of the library...'
'The teachers enjoyed your presentation...'
Comment from a teacher of dyslexic children about the Kernowland books

We are currently adding to the author's diary for Spring and Summer Terms 2012, so please respond as soon as possible if you would like a visit this year. The earlier schools respond, the more likely we will be able to plan the diary to fit in all those wanting a visit when the author is next in their area.

We are also planning the diary for next Academic Year 2012-13, so please also respond if you would like to book for the year starting in Autumn Term 2012.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Jane Bennett
Events Manager


E: info@campionpublishing.com

T: 01992 714369




Campion Books (Publishers)
2 Lea Valley House, Stoney Bridge Drive,Waltham Abbey, Essex, United Kingdom, EN9 3LY



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See you next time in the Story House.


Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...
 

17 Apr 2012

Poetry Parnassus - poets to gather in London during 2012 Olympics

Poetry Parnassus - poets from every Olympic nation to gather in London in June 2012
The Southbank Centre will be the venue for free poetry events during the London 2012 Olympics. Organisers of the Cultural Olympiad event are still looking for artists from 23 countries, and need the public to help them by nominating poets. 

'It is a happy thing that there is no royal road to poetry.
The world should know by this time that one cannot reach Parnassus except by flying.'
Gerard Manley Hopkins

Poetry used to be part of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece.
Mount Parnassus
Mount Parnassus is a mountain in central Greece which, in mythology, was the home of the nine daughters of Zeus, the Muses, who were thought to be the inspiration for knowledge and culture. As the home of the Muses, Parnassus became known as the home of poetry, music, and learning.

At 'the biggest gathering of poets in history', 204 poets (one from every competing nation) will gather at the 'Poetry Parnassus' on the banks of the Thames this summer, to celebrate poetry from around the world during the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Poetry Parnassus, a week-long series of poetic events at the end of June, will see poets, rappers, storytellers, and praise singers reading their work in more than 50 languages, from Haitian creole to Maori, with the event to open as 100,000 poems are dropped from a helicopter on to the waiting crowd.

Thousands of nominations have already been received from the public for the best poet in their country.

However, organisers are still looking for artists from 23 countries, and would welcome suggestions from the public for poets from Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Dominica, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Palau, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.

Do you know a good poet who could represent one of these 23 countries?

Nominate a poet for Poetry Parnassus

See the links below for more info and Launch Tickets.

Sources and More Information:
The Guardian Newspaper
London 2012 Festival
Launch Tickets
Poetry Parnassus Venue: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
'The world’s poets are coming to London - meet them, hear them and celebrate with them at Southbank Centre. There are over 100 free events, activities and workshops happening every day throughout the festival. The world’s most exciting poets, rappers, spoken word artists, singers and storytellers are gathering for this huge event that will make history as the largest poetry festival ever staged in the UK. Keep checking the website for further updates or pop along on the day to find out what’s on.'



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See you next time in the Story House.


Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...
 

14 Apr 2012

Radiowaves - A sound idea for schools

Radiowaves: Safe school podcasting, video, and blogs for young people to report on their world
A little while ago, I was interviewed by children from Weldon Primary School for their WeldonWaves radio station, which is part of the Radiowaves network. See Blog article.
I was impressed by how interested and engaged the children reporters were in this activity and investigated the idea further. Some of what I learned is summarised below. For more, including the Basic Free Membership Option, see the main Radiowaves website.
Radiowaves is the award winning safe social learning environment that makes it easy for schools to deliver fun learning activities through blogs, video, and podcasting.
As a Radiowaves member you have access to a growing library of expertly written, high quality teaching resources, curriculum activity guides and national competitions.
PLUS you can join exclusive school projects and competitions from organisations such as FILMCLUB, British Council, the Football Foundation and many more.

Start something amazing – Safe school blogging

Free to every school. Get started quickly with their teacher resources, projects and competitions.
How Radiowaves makes it Safe and Easy

Safe
Radiowaves is fundamentally different from other sites because it is a safe social network designed especially for education and school broadcasting.

Total Control
You can moderate all your pupils' work and control who can see it online.

Be part of a Global community
Join 1000s of schools worldwide, make new connections and let your pupils safely colaborate with others.

No software, downloads or installs required
You only need the web to use Radiowaves- access it anytime from anywhere.

Student Voice
Increase pupil participation, let them be heard and take responsibility for content.

Differentiated Learning
Let learners develop in their own style with media rich activities.

Training & Kit
They supply everything you need from teacher training days to Flip video cameras.

iPod & Android App
Upload and moderate your Radiowaves station from anywhere.

Parent Portal
Showcase your school's work, advertise events and let parents comment on pupils' work safely.

Super Support
Their expert team understand the busy world of today's teachers and can help you make the most of Radiowaves.

National Projects and Competitions
Join national campaigns, win great prizes, and get exclusive opportunities as a Radiowaves member.

A Complete Solution
Let pupils easily upload video, podcasts, pictures, text and blogs.

Curriculum Resources
Their teacher created activity guides and resources make it easy to get started in any subject.

Access anywhere: School, Extended Service, at Home
Engage pupils anywhere, stay in touch and join the classroom learning at home.

Project Based Learning
Develop pupils' 21st Century skills with fun collaborative projects and interactive resources.

Want to connect and communicate with multiple school sites?
See their Networks page

Want to see the options (including Basic Free membership)
See their Joining Options page



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See you next time in the Story House.


Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...
 

2 Apr 2012

The Sky at Night - Moore Marathon 55 - April Activity Idea for school classes

The Sky at Night - Moore Marathon 55 - April Activity Idea for school classes
Sir Patrick Moore has picked his 55 favourite night sky objects and, over the month of April, would like you to see as many as you can.
The Moore Marathon will help celebrate 55 years of The Sky at Night, which was first broadcast on 24th April 1957.

From the Moon to the star Albireo, the Moore Marathon has something for everyone. You can spot some with your eyes, others need binoculars or a telescope, and you can take part on your own or as a class or other group.
The Moore Constellation
On 6 May on BBC One, and 10 May on BBC Four, The Sky at Night will feature a selection of your observations, from the simple to the most interesting. You can take part by downloading a Moore Marathon observing form. There are two types, the Quick Observing Form or the Detailed Observing Form.


Teachers and Parents: Click here for more information and to get the Observing Guide.

Sources:
Sky at Night Magazine
BBC One - The Sky at Night
Other links:
Sky at Night on Flickr
The Guardian Newspaper
Astronomy Magazine
Astronomy for Kids



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See you next time in the Story House.


Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...
 

1 Apr 2012

Ideas for kids - Punctuation game - Trapped!

Jack Trelawny's Story House - Ideas for kids - Punctuation game - Trapped!
Proper punctuation makes your writing easier to read. Use the correct punctuation or you'll be... Trapped!

Click on START below to begin playing.
Note: Remember to have your sound turned on when you play these games...







If you would like my Kernowland adventure stories as ebooks for viewing on your computer or other reading device, the ebooks are currently available via Amazon for less than £2 each. See the banner below for details...


If you prefer printed books, see Kernowland discount offers currently available on our Amazon store:


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See you next time in the Story House.

Happy writing... and reading!

Jack
Links...