Creative Learning: FS KS1, KS2

Half Moon Theatre gives young people from birth to 18 (25 for disabled young people) an opportunity to experience the best in young people’s theatre, both as a participant and as an audience member. Our Creative Learning programmes include curriculum-focused activity, after-school and out-ofschool workshops and initiatives to support young people’s personal and social development. We have a range of performances on across the year for schools to bring groups to. We also offer an extensive CPD programme for school staff. We are a London-based company with 25 years of experience in understanding and responding to the needs of inner-city schools.

Last year, Half Moon worked with more than 23,500 young people in over 1300 workshop sessions. We regularly work with children’s centres, schools, colleges and community and youth organisations on a range of engaging projects. 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND www.halfmoon.org.uk 020 7709 8900 | [email protected] facebook.com /halfmoontheatre

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Early Years Exploring

Our bespoke programmes for Early Years include introductions to a performance at our theatre and term-long programmes exploring the outdoors and dance and movement.

OUR FIRST THEATRE TRIP A participatory programme in connection with a professional play for under 7s A series of multi-sensory workshops exploring the themes of a performance to enhance a child’s first encounter with the theatre. The creative workshops provided children with imaginative encounters in drama, music and storytelling.

CURIOUS and OUTDOOR PLAY a theatre and play-based workshop programme for foundation stage Using the intimate and inquisitive play Curious as a starting point, Half Moon delivers a series of immersive workshops exploring play and story-making and the outdoors; developing group work, communication skills and children’s creative imagination. The play can be experienced at Half Moon or your own centre, offering children a gentle introduction to theatre. Curious is a story with few words, where children are invited to journey into a world where the kitchen and garden meet. The performance ends with a hands-on encounter as children venture onto the stage to rummage in the soft, moist soil.

DANCE, MOVEMENT AND DRAMA a workshop programme exploring playful movement for foundation stage A series of sessions across a term or just a few weeks: Dance and Drama for Early Years builds from movement, physical expression and dance to stories and narrative through storyworlds and multi-sensory play. Sessions enable children (or children and their parents/carers together) to explore their bodies and their imaginations, encouraging children to feel confident with dance and creative movement, which impacts on children’s physical development. Sessions develop children’s strength and balance as well as encouraging a sense of narrative in their play. Note: similar programmes are available as after-school clubs for Primary Schools

Half Moon presents

Speech Bubbles for KS1

SPEECH BUBBLES a drama for communication project in partnership with London Bubble developing speaking, listening and attention skills for KS1 Speech Bubbles is a targeted, year-long, evidence-based intervention for children in KS1 who have a Speech, Language and Communication Need. Over 24 weeks (eight per term), the programme supports small groups of children in Years 1 and 2 using simple drama sessions to develop a nurturing, structured and tailored environment. This programme specifically aims to enhance the skills of a member of school staff (a high-level TA, Learning Mentor or SENCo, for example) to run small group creative work themselves over the duration of the project for longterm school legacy.

LYRICAL LITERACY a spoken word/poetry project for primary schools A series of classroom-based workshops to develop children’s skills in creating, writing and presenting their own poetry. The poet workshop leader will assist staff in creating a linked curriculum programme to develop creative writing, confidence with text as well as phonic, language competence (rhyme, alliteration etc.), speaking, listening and group work. The programme can focus on one of a number of poetry plays which can be seen at Half Moon or your own centre.

Creative Literacy for KS1/2

Dramatic Maths for KS2 DRAMATIC MATHS a curriculum project using drama to engage children in KS2 maths Successfully piloted in 2011, this programme offers children an opportunity to engage in maths through drama, storytelling and problem-solving. The project uses fairytales as a stimulus, as the children become detectives tasked with solving mathematical mysteries to help the story develop. The context provides lots of opportunities for students to learn about other areas of the national curriculum, such as history, literacy, geography and weather, whilst discovering key facts and figures relating to maths problems. The programme is hands-on and can run over a term or just a few workshops to support the curriculum delivery of maths outside the classroom environment.

FROM DRAWING TO DRAMA a one-off encounter at Half Moon with optional follow-up workshops A chance to experience the art in the new gallery at Half Moon. Gallery visits are free and can happen any day of the week. We provide free gallery trails for children to complete. From Drawing to Drama offers the opportunity to extend the learning of a gallery visit with an hour-long workshop with the artist and an opportunity to explore the characters and places in the pictures through response-work in our drama studio. Using the art on the walls as a stimulus, children are invited to develop their interest in visual arts through both their own artwork and creating a dramatic response. The day at Half Moon can be followed-up with a series of classroom-based workshops to enable the children to work towards a presentation of their own artwork and a short performance based on their gallery visit.

Visual Arts for KS2

Writing and Performance for UKS2

SCRIPTWORKS a child-centred new writing and performance project for primary schools and non-mainstream settings. Children work with a professional writer and director over a series of workshop sessions (in- or after-school) to create their own piece of theatre to be performed to friends and family. The theme can be discussed at the planning stage offering, for example, an enhancement of a crossschool or termly focus. This programme is particularly successful as an acceleration project, as a Year 6 alternative end of year ‘production’, or in non-mainstream settings as an issue-based intervention programme.

TRANSITIONS using drama to support Year 6 students with their transition to secondary school Summer Term Project Pupils, parents and teachers work together to explore fears, expectations and aspirations as the students look ahead to secondary transfer. Improvisation, image theatre, storytelling and roleplay are used to gather the young people’s stories and ‘playground myths’. These are then explored by viewing a forum theatre piece offering fictionalised scenarios, using forum/ discussion. Pupils will be offered the chance to take on the role of the characters, offering alternative scenarios and resolutions, as well as time for further comments and questions. The programme is supported by a dedicated CPD session, plus teaching DVD.

Year 6 end of year show Let Half Moon take the pressure off your Year 6 teachers by bringing in two of our specialist drama facilitators to write and direct the end of school show. Our experienced drama tutors will work with your children over a five week period to create a new performance based on a theme of the children’s ideas which will develop their writing and performing skills. Our tutors will also support the Year 6 teachers in developing their skills as directors of future school shows. This offers a refreshing alternative to presenting published traditional playtexts.

Also... CPD FOR TEACHERS a series of practical training sessions for primary and secondary school teachers Half Moon, in partnership with Tower Hamlets Arts and Education Service (THAMES), is offering a further programme of Continuing Professional Development for all school staff (teachers, TAs, Learning Mentors etc.). Sessions aim to extend the quality and breadth of drama being used within the core curriculum, as distinct subject delivery and as a tool for cross-curricular work or effective classroom management. This programme aims to address school development plans and provide specific training for teachers as identified in on-going appraisal within the performance review process. Sessions are free to staff members from Tower Hamlets schools. Fees apply for other professionals, with discounted rates for PGCE students.

Coming to performances at Half Moon Supporting your school to meet its targets for visits to the theatre, we will put together a package of shows for all your classes in EY/FS, KS1 and lower KS2 to see a performance with us. Please contact us for a schedule of performances for the year.

Arts Award / Artsmark We are an Arts Award Supporter meaning that many of the programmes we offer schools and children and young people can be used as part of Discover, Explore, Bronze and Silver Arts Awards. We can work alongside local schools who are looking to achieve Artsmark status to create a varied arts offer to all children in the school.

For further information on all Creative Learning programmes at Half Moon, and to discuss prices, please contact: Beccy Allen, Producer (Creative Learning) [email protected] | 020 7709 8908

Half Moon Theatre 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND www.halfmoon.org.uk 020 7709 8900 | [email protected] facebook.com /halfmoontheatre twitter.com/halfmoontheatre