TEACHING & LEARNING

In order to teach creative writing to a low ability year 8 class, I decided to use drama. The class were in teams and had pre-learned vocabulary for the task, which was space and aliens related. I used ‘teacher in role’ in order to set the scene: I was the Commander of an investigation into a UFO crash landing and the children were in differentiated pairs which were given specific ‘investigator roles.’ For example, the lowest ability were given the role of ‘Alien body investigators,’ and their task involved describing the alien using ‘wow words.’

 

Each team was given a special envelope containing a worksheet, a prop of some kind (for example, a ‘piece of space ship,’ in an ‘evidence bag,’) and a scaffolding task. As the groups were differentiated, I was able to put their targets on the envelope as part of a ‘mission objective.’ The hands-on nature of the props and the fun element of the drama meant all the children were excited about the lesson, and very involved in what they were doing. When the time came for quiet writing (longer differentiated tasks were set) towards the end of the lesson, the class worked well with some simple writing frames and more key words.

 

Aside from the drama element, I included a social lesson objective, which was to treat each other with respect. We put a lot of effort into pre-learning the meaning of ‘respect’ and had the word displayed during the lesson. My plenary was to ask the children to write praise postcards for each other. I didn’t tell them who to write to – I left it up to them – but I was delighted when each child received one from someone else in the class.

 

 

 

Lucy Clark