Peer Group Education

Training Year 5 children as story scribes and directors for the Foundation Stage

Practicalities

Over five weeks, up to fifteen, Year 5 pupils are trained by MakeBelieve Arts to become workshop leaders in the Foundation Stage classroom, utilising the Helicopter Technique of Storytelling and Story Acting.

The Programme consists of Master Classes and in-class sessions working alongside an experienced workshop leader to develop skills in leading Storytelling and Story Acting with younger children.

A video documentary 'Monsters and Superheroes' outlines the technique and is available for purchase. Click here for more information Resources

The Ethos

Pupils selected for the scheme come from a range of backgrounds, confidences and ability levels and the success of the project highlights the benefits of such an unusual approach to literacy for both age groups.

For the younger children, particularly those who are not so confident with adults it quickly becomes apparent that they are far more likely to tell their stories to an older child. In one class a girl who had previously whispered her story almost inaudibly to an adult scribe was witnessed speaking loudly and clearly, her confidence and the clarity of her voice changed beyond recognition as the two generations worked together to get her story down.

One Reception class teacher wondered if the praise a Year 5 pupil gives a younger child is somehow different, more powerful; as she could see her class visibly grow in stature when an older pupil commented that something they had done was excellent.

For the Year 5 pupils, the accurately and precision with which they record what the younger children are saying has been a strong success point of the project. It is noted that they take more time and care over their spellings, handwriting and letter formation than they usual do, even though they are told that in this instance none of this is important as long as they can read what they have written.