Spook's Apprentice Workshops
Activity |
Input of lesson (including S&L opportunities) |
Independent
Work (including
differentiated activities, role of support/teacher) |
Plenary |
Extending Narrative |
Introduce the work of a Spook. Explain his role and how he can’t
go on forever – he needs a successor. But successor must be the 7th
son of a 7th son – rumoured to have mystical powers. Introduce Tom – the
apprentice How can you test him to see if he
has the bravery? Ask children how you could do this? Generate the answer – to test
him somewhere scary – this is what he does. Read Chapter 3 – Watery Lane. Stop at the moment Spook Gregory
leaves Tom. Reiterate in character the
importance of descriptive language (‘bad doesn’t scare me’) proper nouns need
capital letters (‘I need to know it’s a monster and I can only tell if it has
a capital letter ‘) and a variety of punctuation for suspense (commas,
elipses etc). |
Children to extend the narrative by
describing what is down in the cellar. Writing to be done in pairs. H/A to include speech L/A to storyboard |
Listen to a selection of the
children’s writing. Read the beginning of the next
chapter to reveal what is down there. |
Instructional Writing |
Introduce the concept of a Blood
Cake. Don’t describe the contents but
tell them it has dark magic which can give powers to witches. Children in fours to describe what
could be in that cake. Part of the training is to know how
you make a Blood Cake so you can recognise one? How would you recognise it? Children to think of foul smelling
adjectives. Spook to tell the class he wants
simple language – not fussy! Over elaborate description can
confuse. |
Children in pairs to write a recipe
and give instructions on how to make the cake. |
Review some of the recipes. Children to read them in an evil tone. |
Writing Plays and Persuasive
Writing |
Read Chapter 6 – The Girl
with the Pointy Shoes Explain how Tom made his mistake by
following up with Chapter 8 – Mother Malkin. Ask children to discuss if Tom was
wrong? Take answers on whether he was weak
or kind? Spook to set task – (20 mins) In threes children to play Tom,
Alice and Mother Malkin. Scene 1 – Alice persuading
Tom to take the cakes. Scene 2 – Tom about to give
Alice the cakes but having second thoughts – Alice and mother Malkin
persuading him. Will he give the cakes? Up to the
group. |
Spook to set task – (20 mins) In threes children to play Tom,
Alice and Mother Malkin. Scene 1 – Alice persuading
Tom to take the cakes. Scene 2 – Tom about to give
Alice the cakes but having second thoughts – Alice and mother Malkin
persuading him. L/A – to have a scribe. Rest independent. |
Children to act out their plays With the Spook giving feedback. |
Argumentative Writing |
Give the headline – Alice
Deane Arrested for Witchery! Give some facts about witches
– The Malevolent, The Benign, The Falsely Accused and The
Unaware. Describe all of these arguing that
she could be any one of these. Give out facts 1) Alice is a member of the Deane Clan
and relatives include Mother Malkin, her aunts Agnes Sowerbutts and Bony
Lizzy 2) She is 13 years old 3) She has no record of witchery or practising
dark magic Give out pros 1) She was forced to fool Tom by Bony
Lizzy 2) She felt guilty as Mother Malkin escaped 3) She has shown signs of liking Tom and could
be turned 100% good Give cons 1) She has been in a witch clan since
she was born (13 years of conditioning) 2) She put people’s lives at risk 3) She obviously can’t decide right from wrong Set task Witchfinders to decide fate Finish off day with some of the way
witches were tested. |
Children split into 6 groups 2 x prosecutors 2 x defence 2 x Alice Children to have 15 minutes
deciding arguments. 20 minute trial |
Verdict given |
Planning by Steve Delaney (BAQTS)
- Qualified Primary School Teacher with fully enhanced CRB disclosure
For details how these activities can be presented by a real life spook at your school, please contact Steve Delaney on email: stevedelaney1971@gmail.com