Literacy through creativity – Key Stage 1

Owl and the Pussycat, poem by Edward Lear

Visual arts > Screen printing onto fabric -colourful 2 layer prints using imagery from the poem, eg. Stars and moon, cat and owl.

Mask making and dramatization of the poem – class group works to make characters from the poem to then wear for a dramatic re-telling of the poem.

Dance and movement> Class will work to explore the characters in the poem using different body movements, explore how animals move to create a movement piece in small groups to be performed.

Music > Guitarist and song writer will enable class to create their own song about the owl and the pussycat.

Creative writing > Children will develop their own class poem about journeys and making friends.

“We have used Z-arts before for the same project and the children always enjoy themselves and learn valuable skills. It’s a day they don’t forget!” – St Josephs Primary School

“This has been the best day of my life.” – Isabelle, age 6

Not Now Bernard – David McKee

Visual arts > Using a wide variety of different playful materials children will create their own imaginary monster taking ideas created in the drama session.

Dance & movement > Children will explore ways of moving as monsters to create a dance piece with many monsters!

Music > Investigating music pieces about monsters and sounds from ‘scary’ films – children will  create their own sound art piece about monsters.

Creative writing > After designing their own monster – children will write their own story about a monster they have imagined – and how people might respond to it as an alien being in a human world.

The Day the Crayons Quit – Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers

Visual arts > Exploring colours and feeling, create large sensory murals using mixed mediums.

Dance & movement > Investigation of how colour can inspire dance, and different colours link to emotions that would be danced in a different way.

Music > We hear music, can we hear colour? – a look at different sounds and what we visualise from different music.

Creative writing > Children to write their own creative writing piece from the perspective of their favourite colour and about how the white crayon might feel – almost being invisible.

The Cat in The Hat – Dr Seuss

Visual arts > Costume design – create a special piece of head wear individual to themselves using inspiration from the objects the cat balances in the story.

Dance & movement > Create a dance piece that is structured around the 2 Things, what mischief would look like in contemporary dancing and how the different characters might move.

Music > What music would soundtrack the Cat in the Hat? – create a fun soundscape with sound affects to accompany the story.

Creative writing > Produce a class poem about what the children would juggle if they were the Cat in the hat.

Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak

Visual arts > Mask making with natural materials.

Dance & movement > Movement to music to create a wild rumpus dance piece.

Music > Re-create sounds of monsters, listen to different soundscapes from ‘fanfare’ – explore how the sounds to accompany the story may change.

Creative writing > Write a class poem about a wild rumpus, create a story of their own strange, magical place they could sail to.

The Owl Who was Afraid of the Dark – Jill Tomlinson

Visual arts > Shadow puppets – dramatization of the story in groups.

Dance & movement > Create a dance piece that journeys into the night-time realm of campfires, fireworks and starry nights.

Music > Create a soundscape of natural British wildlife and create a song about the Plop’s night time journey.

Creative writing > Children will examine different fears, and ways to help overcome them to develop a story of their own.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen

Visual arts > Look at different ways of using colour and texture as representation, black and white chalk and charcoal pictures, painting with watercolours.

Dance & movement > Dancing journey’s – explore the different areas within the story.

Music > Using sensory objects, investigate sounds of the various places on the family’s journey.

Creative writing > As a class, write a poem inspired about journeys from all over the world.