24th Apr 2012 by Jenny Liggins

Maths Workshops for Primary Schools – The Magic of Maths

In these half day workshops, children will meet and work with characters who, whilst fictional, are firmly rooted in history and for each of whom maths is of paramount importance. Through whole group interactive storytelling, children will be challenged to use their mathematical skills in order to drive the narrative forwards, before working in smaller groups on defined and structured problems.

 

Download the Magic of Maths Programme leaflet

 

Yrs 1 & 2: Piratical Maths

Numbers, shapes and directions are important to privateer turned pirate, Captain Richard Morgan – and he’s eager to share his interest with the children. This 90 minute workshop will see him engaging them in a piece of interactive storytelling that will challenge their knowledge and skills – before asking for their help in using a map and some mathematical clues to locate the treasure that’s long lain hidden on Skeleton Island. They’ll then work in pairs to construct their own maps, testing them out on each other.

Outcomes: Application of simple number patterns; use of directions – both “right and left” and “north, south, east and west”; selecting appropriately sized circles, triangles, squares and rectangles.

Cross Curricular Links: History, Geography & Art

 

“Super planning, with good use of time/pace. Well pitched activities transferable to all age ranges!”

Teacher, Sudley Junior School

 

Yrs 3 & 4: The Viking’s Problem

Hagar the Hunter and some of his fellow villagers have a favour to ask of the children. Before that, however, to get their brains working, and in true Viking style, he’ll treat them to an interactive saga, one that will see them having to tackle a range of challenges on behalf of the protagonist. And then comes the favour (which children will approach in pairs); Hagar needs help in deciding what to load onto the longship, bearing in mind that there is an absolute weight limit. This workshop will end with the children making their own Viking shields, decorated with mathematical tips and reminders.

Outcomes: Practice in each of the number operations; development of problem-solving strategies; reflection on individual needs.

Cross Curricular Links: History, Science & Art

 

“The activities were focused, based on different learning styles and allowed all children to have a go at everything.”

 Year 4 Teacher

 

Years 5 & 6: The Archaeologist’s Puzzle

Archaeologist Sir Bertie Snow has collected a number of clues about life in ancient Izmai society – but he needs the children’s help in putting them together. After participating in whole group games designed to encourage them to begin thinking about “number”, they’ll be given boxes of artefacts to stimulate their thinking. Working individually, in pairs and in small groups, they would then work through a series of differentiated “challenges”, the completion of each of which will add another piece to the “jigsaw” they’re building.

Outcomes: Analysing number patterns; collecting and interpreting data; using ratios.

Cross-curricular Links: History, Geography & RE

Creating a Maths Trails

Maths Trails

Our Primary Maths Trails have been designed to support pupils recalling and using knowledge they have previously gained, by supporting them to realise that the understanding is there – they just have to find ways of unlocking it! Each trail is designed to be delivered both indoors and out, helping to support schools in making better use of their grounds and immediate locality to promote Learning Outside the Classroom.  It may be that you want to focus on a specific topic or review the work of a term or more – and we’ll design the trail to meet your needs.

Outcomes: Using existing mathematical knowledge to create solutions to unfamiliar problems; combining understanding, experiences, imagination and reasoning to construct new knowledge.

Cross-curricular Links: Science; Art

 

Although we’ve given examples of topics, we’re also able to work with you to design your own workshop!

 

Get in touch

To find out more, for costs or to book a workshop please contact us on 0151 708 8886, or email Jackson Kavanagh, Director of Programmes at j.kavanagh@as-creatives.com.

Download the Magic of Maths Programme leaflet

 

Case Study

Read the Maths Alfresco – Getting Excited about Numbers and Shapes at Sudley Juniors case study

 

20th Apr 2012 by Kate Pankhurst

Maths Workshops for Secondary Schools – The Magic of Maths

Numbers, shapes, patterns and rhythms – maths is all around us. These interactive workshops situate students in fictional worlds in which the ability to understand and manipulate numbers and/or shapes is of paramount importance. Importantly, though, they also include opportunities for active reflection on how and why such skills can help in real life. Although we’ve given examples of topics, we’re also able to work with you to design your own workshop!

Download the Magic of Maths Leaflet here

Number Patterns: The Bunker

It is 1944 and plans for the Allied invasion of France are well under way. But, suspecting that the complex Enigma Code has been broken, the Nazis have been experimenting with simpler cryptography. There is no code book, the system relies on people being able to spot number patterns and act accordingly. This interactive 90 – 120 minute workshop engages students in cracking a series of codes, before challenging them to create their own. And, reminding us of some of the more playful ways that those at Bletchley Park worked with numbers, they’ll also be asked to write some Fibonacci Poetry!

Outcomes: Increased motivation towards problem solving; increased awareness of number patterns; peer evaluation.

Cross Curricular Links: History & English

“The feedback from both students and staff has been excellent – it is refreshing to see a group of creative practitioners with such a focused and professional approach!”
 

Assistant Headteacher

Properties of Shapes: The Maze of Mars

A team of astronauts is stranded deep underground on Mars after a rockfall. We’re in the year 2032 and, working in teams, students need to piece together a safe route out for their colleagues. They’ll only be able to do this, by analysing the features of a range of 2D and 3D shapes and demonstrating an understanding of co-ordinates. This engaging 90 – 120 minute workshop encourages students of all abilities to think of shapes as realities as well as concepts, as well as giving them an opportunity to design a polygonal badge for the rescue team!

Outcomes: Increased motivation towards problem solving; increased awareness of the properties of a range of both 2D and 3D shapes; peer evaluation.

Cross Curricular Links: Geography, Science & Art

 

Pendle Vale Maths Challenge

Maths Challenge

Number, Shape and Gemeotry:       

In the run-up to London 2012, Scotland Yard has become aware of a plot to murder England’s dazzling new sprinter – Michaela Maths. They have a list of suspects – so far, so good. They also have a range of mathematical clues. Students will unravel a mystery that features, amongst many other things, ticket allocations, angles of starting blocks and stadium designs (as well as the price and volume of hot dogs!). Over an absorbing two to two and a half hours, students will work with two detectives and will also have a chance to report on Michaela’s Olympic fitness!

Outcomes: Increased motivation towards problem solving; increased awareness of the relationships between maths and real life; peer evaluation.

Cross-curricular Links: PE; English

 

Maths Trails

Our Maths Trails have been designed to support pupils recalling and using knowledge they have previously gained, by supporting them to realise that the understanding is there – they just have to find ways of unlocking it! Each trail is designed to be delivered both indoors and out, helping to support schools in making better use of their grounds and immediate locality to promote Learning Outside the Classroom.  We’ll design the trail to meet your needs, it may be that you want to focus on a specific topic or review the work of a term.

Outcomes: Use existing mathematical knowledge to create solutions to unfamiliar problems; Combine understanding, experiences, imagination and reasoning to construct new knowledge;

Cross Curricular Links: Science; Art

 

Get in touch:

To find out more or to book a workshop please contact us on 0151 708 8886, or email Jackson Kavanagh, Director of Programmes at j.kavanagh@as-creatives.com.

You can also download the Magic of Maths Programme Leaflet

You can also find out more about as creatives by visiting our website at: www.as-creatives.com

19th Apr 2012 by Jenny Liggins

Light Night Liverpool 2012 – Friday 18th May

We’ve always loved the idea of Light Night (Liverpool’s one-night arts & culture festival) – and have participated ourselves in the past. So we’re delighted that this year it gives us a brilliant chance to welcome you into our new home in the Baltic Triangle on Friday 18th May – and share a taste of what we do!

Light Night 2012

We’ve designed two exciting opportunities to work with our professional writers and visual artists, with one activity contributing to an installation and the other seeing you taking your own piece of art home with you. They’re both free (and there’s no need to book!) and we’ll be open from 4.00 – 11.00pm. You’ll find all of contact details and address below…

So what have we got lined up for you? You’ll find outlines of both Night Stories and Little Boxes of Night below – together with transport and access details. We’ll be posting regular updates throughout the night on both our Facebook and Twitter feeds – and we’ll be inviting you to share your thoughts!

 

Night Stories
What’s Light Night about? What does it mean to – and for – Liverpool? You can help answer these questions by contributing frames to a large scale and ever growing storyboard telling the story of Light Night itself. Who will be in the Night Stories? Will the stories be romcoms, documentaries – or sci-fi spectaculars? We don’t know – because all of this will be up to you! But our writers and artists will support you in designing and making frames that build on what’s gone before – and leave openings for those who’ll follow. The storyboard will be displayed on the walls of our open plan working studio and documented as it develops – with updates being posted on Facebook throughout the night.

Storyboards

Create a Storyboard alongside our writers and artists

Little Boxes of Night
What does “night” mean to you? What are your dreams made of? You can show the world what you think by transforming cardboard nets into Little Boxes of Night through easy-to-use decoupage techniques – and we’ll provide everything you need. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to record your inner thoughts – and store them, unseen by other eyes, inside your personal box. And, if you’d like these to take the form of simple origami designs, of haikus or of messages to the past or future, our team will be on hand to support you.

Safeguarding:

All of our facilitators have enhanced CRB disclosures and are cleared to work with both children and vulnerable adults. We are covered by both employer’s and public liability insurance.

Venue:

as creatives, 1a Brick Street Baltic Triangle Liverpool, L1 0BL

Access:

We regret that there is no access to our building for people who use wheelchairs. Many apologies.

Transport:

We are within easy walking distance of public transport – 15 minutes from both Liverpool One Bus Station and Lime Street. In addition, the 26, 27, 75, 80, 82 and 86 buses all stop nearby.

Parking:

Although Brick Street itself will be open, most of the roads between Brick Street and Parliament Street will be closed to traffic on Light Night – and, as part of an interactive game linked to Liverpool Sound City, you may see some “zombies” lurking. However, if you leave them well alone, they shouldn’t try to stop you getting to us!

Taking Part:

Light Night will take place on Friday 18th May 2012. Both of our events are FREE, suitable for all ages and will run throughout the evening from 4pm – 111pm.  There is no need to book – just call in at anytime!

Get in touch:

If you have any questions about the event or would like to find out more please get in touch with us on 0151 708 886 or email info@as-creatives.com

 

Do something different on a Friday Night.

LightNight is Liverpool’s one-night festival of arts and culture, when venues across the city throw open their doors and stage over 90 special events. From 4pm visitors of all ages can follow their own vibrant trail of light projections, exhibitions, performances, talks, walks, dance and much more. It’s the perfect chance to meet friends and family to enjoy the relaxed after-hours atmosphere and rediscover Liverpool city centre – it’s a Friday night out with a difference.

Visit www.lightnightliverpool.co.uk and request your free programme

13th Apr 2012 by Kate Pankhurst

Creative Literacy Programmes: Bringing the Text to Life

There’s not a playwright, living or dead, who saw their texts as the subject of academic study. Instead, they wanted their works to be shaped by actors and brought to life for audiences – because, as Shakespeare himself put it, “The play’s the thing!”

The creative literacy programmes you’ll find outlined below have been designed to dust the dust away from play texts by giving students opportunities to explore them as industry professionals do – and are delivered by former RSC actor Jo Stokes and/or  writer and director Jackson Kavanagh.

Although we’ve given examples of texts, the methodologies can be applied to any play – or, indeed, any novel, short story or poem – so please feel free to get in touch with us to Design Your Own Workshop!

Download the Bringing the Text to Life Programmes Leaflet

Creative Literacy

Bringing the text to life

KS3: A Play in a Day

1 full day, up to 30 students

During the course of a single day, students will explore the story of “Macbeth”. Beginning with simple drama games, they’ll move onto whole group dramatisations of key scenes and then structured improvisations – before tackling, as Shakespeare wrote them, some of the most important later scenes. They will, of course, encounter some unfamiliar language – but, as we build this in bit by bit, they’ll be managing large chunks of text with confidence by the end of the session!

Outcomes: a firm hold of the narrative of “Macbeth”; an appreciation of how and why characters change within the narrative; an understanding of how “staging” contributes to “scripting”.

“It was pitched really cleverly, great ideas were teased out of the kids without making them feel uncomfortable”

Gifted & Talented Coordinator, Parklands High School, Liverpool

GCSE: Characters, Conflicts and Conventions

Half day, whole year group activity or up to 30 students for more detailed exploration

This half-day, interactive and experiential workshop sees students exploring, in detail, and from a director’s perspective, key scenes from either “An Inspector Calls” or The Crucible”. Gaining a privileged insight into the workings of the rehearsal room, they’ll start, as professionals  do, by exploring how each of the characters is first presented to the audience – before, guided by the text, investigating how and why they develop as the narrative moves forward.

Outcomes: an understanding of ways in which characters’ language engages audiences in themes; an appreciation of the relationships between structure and staging; opportunities to analyse text to in wider contexts.

 

A Level: The Victory of Tragedy

1 full day, up to 30 students

These whole-day Master Classes offer your students unique opportunities to work with industry professionals in both analysing ways in which “tragedy” works to win us over and exploring links between theatrical tragedy and other literary genres. Working in pairs, in threes, in small groups and as a whole group, they’ll interrogate the nature of tragedy, explore key characters and their language) in key scenes from “Othello”, “Macbeth” or “Romeo and Juliet” – and experiment with ways in which the plays might connect with Gothic or pastoral conventions.

Outcomes: increased ability to engage with text as an actor and/or director; increased understanding of ways that “outsiders” are used to engage audiences; increased awareness of the historiocity of tragedy – including links to other genres.

“The activities you brought were new, exciting and relevant to learning – delivered with an engaging delivery style and excellent classroom management skills”

Member of SLT

 

KS 3/4: Performance Poetry:

Half-day sessions, up to 30 students

During these highly interactive half-day sessions students will be introduced to frameworks that allow them to construct and revel in poems that question the world around them and learn the skills associated with performance. Students will draft their own poems – before exploring how they can be brought to life in individual, paired and group readings, exploring the impacts of varying such elements as pace, rhythm and volume. And they’ll end the session by beginning to translate their labours into tangible form.

Outcomes: Participated in structured yet open-ended activities that integrate work in ‘speaking and listening’, ‘reading’ and ‘writing’; Imagined and explore feelings and ideas, focusing on creative uses of language and how to interest the reader.

 

Connections

Find out more…

For more information, costs or to book a workshop please get in touch with us 0151 708 8886 or email Jackson Kavanagh at j.kavanagh@as-creatives.com. Download the Bringing the Text to Life Programmes Leaflet here

13th Apr 2012 by Dawn

A Final blog from our Volunteer Dawn Kelly

When I started my voluntary placement at as creatives I was delighted to be helping out at a company that truly valued creativity within education. All the staff at as creatives passionately believe that creativity can unlock the potential of individuals and help to improve feelings of self worth and self-esteem. Now that I have come to the end of my placement I can honestly say that now, more than ever, I believe that creativity is crucial in motivating people’s learning.

My placement has allowed me to be involved in so many tasks, from blog writing and developing social media platforms to hands-on experience assisting with creative projects in schools and I have developed so many skills that I know will be advantageous within my professional life.

One of my favourite aspects of my role has been updating the blog site; this required me to research into many past programmes that as creatives have delivered and gave me an insight into the extensive amount of projects they design – from enterprise projects in schools to “Extraordinary Worlds holiday clubs.” What’s more I love to write and I really feel that I have developed my writing ability – and I definitely have a lot more copy to put in my portfolio!

However my favourite aspect of the role was the hands-on experience I gained when I assisted at a poetry workshop at Parklands High School. I really enjoyed interacting with the pupils and I was amazed at their ability to produce such wonderful poetry – and in such a short space of time! I really liked how all the students worked together and they all seemed genuinely proud of what they achieved that day.

I’ve really enjoyed my experience with as creatives – I’ve worked with some wonderful people in such a friendly environment where the flow of tea appears to be constant! I’m genuinely sad to be leaving, but very happy that I’ve experienced the extraordinary world of as creatives! 

If you are interested in volunteering with us please get in touch to find out more information on 0151 708 8886 or email info@as-creatives.com