Learning through Drama in ‘Storyland’ in the Early Years

ABOUT THE COURSE

This course will explain how teachers can use Drama to take young children to and from ‘Storyland’. Once there, they will be meeting characters, encountering new situations, solving problems together and learning memorably across the curriculum. They will be thinking, talking and often writing, drawing, designing or making, within co-imagined worlds. Whether in or out of role, the teacher will be using simple drama techniques and strategies, to stimulate, support, guide and ensure that the children are learning.

PARTICIPANTS WILL

• Learn how to take a whole class, to and from Storyland;
• Learn how planned and opportunistic learning can happen there;
• Consider how to introduce characters, settings and challenging situations in Storyland;
• Consider some possible teacher roles and functions;
• Be offered examples of learning that has taken place in Storyland;
• Consider which parts of their curriculum could be learned in Storyland.

HANDOUTS:

• A Drama Strategies booklet
• A copy of the Powerpoint (as a PDF)
• A lesson plan for Storyland
• An article about ‘Visiting Storyland’

Patrice Baldwin contributed a chapter about Storyland, to a book for Early Years teachers by Pie Corbett. She also worked with Teachers’ TV to produce a programme about teaching KS1 maths in Storyland, (available on You Tube).

This course is also available for schools to host online during 2020-21

Patrice Baldwin was a primary headteacher, School Improvement Partner, Arts Education Adviser and Ofsted inspector. She was Sir Jim Rose’s Drama Editorial Expert for his proposed primary national curriculum and has been a consultant to QCA, DCMS, ACE, Ofsted and Oak National Academy.

Patrice was President of the International Drama Theatre and Education Association (IDEA) from 2010-13 and has given keynotes and workshops in 35+ countries. She was Chair of National Drama for more than a decade (until 2015) and created and directed Drama for Learning and Creativity (D4LC), an internationally recognised school improvement initiative, presented to UNESCO.

Patrice has published many books about drama for learning, including: The Drama Book, Teaching Literacy Through Drama (with Kate Fleming), The Primary Drama Handbook, With Drama in Mind, School Improvement Through Drama and Inspiring Writing Through Drama (with Rob John). Her next book (October 2021), is Process Drama for Second Language Teaching and Learning (with Alicja Galazka). Patrice has also worked as a BBC Education drama scriptwriter and series consultant. She now works freelance and writes.

Email: patrice@patricebaldwin.com Website: www.patricebaldwin.com

‘Patrice Baldwin is a rarity. She is one of the few primary drama experts left in this country and quite possibly the most experienced and effective drama primary teacher. Teachers on her courses, come away feeling more confident and with a broader repertoire. Her work is excellent!’ 

Pie Corbett

Absolutely brilliant! Patrice’s course opened doors for colleagues which they would not have believed possible. In everything she does, she walks delegates through the materials, and discusses the impact this has on children’s learning. She uses drama conventions to create opportunities for pupils to secure their learning in new and deeper ways. 

Mary Myatt