What if Stonehenge could tell us all it has seen over the millennia – and all it has heard, too? What if your school gates could share with us all the comings and goings they have seen for years? And what about that well-thumbed book on the library shelf? This highly imaginative and interactive workshop allows students to harvest the fruits of both their own and their classmates’ imaginations as they explore notions of empathy to construct some uniquely moving poetry.

 

Workshop Description

What would the world look like from the point of view of a withered tree on the Somme in World War I? How would it sound to the tree in which Scout, Jem and Dill hide their treasures in “To Kill a Mockingbird”? What would be the memories of Mount Etna? And what might the clock on your classroom wall dream of as it gazes down on all the learning below? This highly imaginative and interactive workshop allows students to harvest the fruits of both their own and their classmates’ imaginations as they explore notions of empathy to construct some uniquely moving poetry. Longer workshops will see them gaining experience in presentation skills as we support them in exploring the most effective ways to deliver their poems vocally.

Exploring (according to age): empathy, personification, subtext, descriptive writing, contrasts, rhythm, tone, pace.

"I was surprised by the lesson itself, I thought we would have to sit still and write a massive poem by ourselves” Pupil, West Derby School 

"A massive ‘Thank You’ for the Workshops last week. The pupils had a great time and it was wonderful learning about these less well known scientists and inventors. We will look forward to receiving our poems! We will be in touch regarding next year’s dates." Surbiton High Girls’ Prep School

 

Read a case study about our Personfication Poety workshop

Poetry
KS1-KS4 / P1 - P7 / S1-S5
30 pupils per workshop
minimum of 60 minutes (although we always prefer longer!)
Classroom or hall

FAQs

How many pupils can take part?

Personification Poetry workshops can accommodate up to 30 pupils per workshop in sessions lasting at least 1-hour - so up-to 150 pupils can take part in one day.

What is the format of the day?

We will work with you to plan a timetable to accommodate the number of classes you would like to include, based around the timings of your school day. The timetable might look something like this:

9.00 - 10.15: Session 1

10.15 - 11.30: Session 2

11.30 - 12.00: Session 3

LUNCH

1.00 - 1.45: Session 3 (cont'd)

1.45 - 3.00: Session 4

Are there any technical requirements?

Your visitor will need access to a laptop/ screen/projector set up in the working space.

Related Workshops

National Poetry Day School Workshops Refuge

Refuge Rhymes Poetry Workshop

Poetry workshops exploring the theme of "Refuge"

Outdoor Poetry

Using your own school grounds as a resource in themselves, we'll guide pupils through a process enabling them to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways - and weave magical tapestries of words.

Collaborative Poetry

Pupils. will work together to create and perform a collaborative class poem on a theme of your (or their) choice.