Creative Engagement

ProblemSolving

CollaborativeLearning

ConfidenceDivergentthinking

Risktaking

Pupilownership

CreativeclassroomstrandshighlightedatCRAGSIDEPRIMARY

Curiosityandengagement

Leadership

CulturalPartners

• CreativityisveryclearlyattheheartofthecurriculumexperienceatCragsidePrimaryandisconsideredfundamentaltowhat itmeanstobeasuccessfullearner.

• Theschool isfirmlycommittedtoenhancinglearningoutcomes bysimultaneously cultivatingtheirstudents’ cognitiveandcreativedevelopmentinthebroadestsenseacrossthecurriculum.

CURIOSITYANDENGAGEMENT– CreativeIntentionCONTEXTThecommitmenttocreativityalsoextendstoYear6inwhichtheschoolensuresthatthefoundationsubjectsdonotlosestatus,impetusorimpact.OnewayinwhichthisisachievedisthroughparticipationintheShakespeareSchoolsFestivalProject.Nowintheirthirdyearofrunning,theschoolutilises thisProject,amongstarangeofothercreativecurriculumapproaches,toinjectcreativityintotheircurriculum.

CURIOSITYANDENGAGEMENT– CreativeIntention

ForthefirsteightweeksofYear6,thechildrenliveandbreatheShakespeare.Across-curricularapproachembracesHistory,English,PSCHE,ArtandDesign,MusicandDesignTechnology.

“TheFestivalprocessgivesstudentsvitallifeskills;itincreasesself-confidenceandaspiration,raisesself-esteemandpromotesteamwork- skillsyoungpeopleneedonwhateverstagelifehasforthem.Fromschoolrefuserswhoseattendancesoars,reluctantreaderswhoseekoutthefulltextsintheirschoollibrary,toautisticyoungpeoplewhounderstandmoreaboutsocialinteraction;wechangeliveseveryyear.”[Shakespeareschools.org]

WithinthecontextoftheShakespeareSchoolsFestivalProjectthedevelopmentofcreativityskillshasbeensecuredbyattendingtothreemainthemes:- Helpingstudentstotakegreaterresponsibilityforplanningandmanagingtheirownlearning- Establishingopenendedapproachestolearning,wherelearnersandstaffworktogethertoexplorethemes.- Theuseofexternalpartnershipstobroadenandenhancethelearningexperiences.InessencetheuniquepowerofperformancehasbeenusedtoignitecuriosityandengagementwithinbothstaffandstudentsalikeastheyworkedtogethertodeveloptheirinterpretationofTheTempest.AtCragsidePrimaryschooldramaiscelebratedforitsinherentworthaswellasaspringboardforwiderlearningopportunitiesacrossthecurriculum.

Curiosityandengagement– CREATIVEIDEASFORDEVELOPMENT

Workinginadifferentway,tryingoutanewapproach

E.g. Puttingasmallgroupofchildreninchargeofproducingonecharacter ’scostume

Usingphilosophicalquestions asawayintoatheme.

E.g. ‘ThePhilosophyforChildren’approachinvolvesgroupdiscussionsaboutethicalorphilosophicaltopics,suchasfairnessandtruth.Thediscussionsaredesignedtoencouragechildrentoaskquestions,constructargumentsandengage inreasoneddebate.

Usingavisual,physicalormusicalmediumforexploringconceptsandideas.

E.g.usingourbodiesinMusiclessons,tocreatesoundeffects forthe‘Storm’inTheTempest.

Unusualperspectives

Creatingtheunexpected

thepowerofsuggestion

Transferringlearningtodifferentcontexts

Beingcomfortablewithuncertainty

Oneapproachforinjectingcuriosityandengagementistoworkwiththeunfamiliarandtheunknown.Belowarearangeofstrategieswithexamplesfromour

CaseStudyschool.

Transform theclassroominan‘absurdway’suchaswithphysicalprops,asmell,puttingeverythingupsidedownorusingasinglecolour

E.g.E.g. ExploreSETTINGwithprops: sand,seashells;apictureofalushislandwithsandybeaches;apictureofastormatsea;asailingship;a17th-centurymapshowingNaples,Milan,theMediterraneanSea;playmusicwiththesoundoftheseaoretherealmusicsuitableformagicandromance.

Useoneformtostudyanother suchasPSHEthroughDanceorArtorpoetry throughmaths

E.g.DescribingthecrimeofoneofShakespearecharactersbywritingaforensicsciencereport. Whathappened,when,where,how?

Givetheclassroomanewfunctionthatchangestherules– acourtroom,abeach,adesert,arubbishdump…

SettingascenefromTheTempestinapost-apocalypticwasteland!

Createnewconceptsbyputtingthingstogetherthatdon’tusuallybelongtogether

E.Gusingfurniturefromtheclassroomtocreatesoundscapes.“Messingaroundandhavingfunbutinaformalwaythatcreatessomethingmeaningful”.Year6Student

Stirringthingsup.

Generatingquestions.

Creatingasenseofwonder.

Playingaroundwithideas.

Embracingthebizarre.

Exploringmultipleviewpoints.

Curiosityandengagement– CREATIVEIDEASFORDEVELOPMENT