Myths & Legends

Myths and legends make up a great part of our childhood learning experience, but few realise the potential learning possibilities. Whether this is to help with creative writing, stimulate language development, encourage imagination, or promote characterisation our workshops are informative, effective and FUN!

Here at bZents we have combined superb storytelling with drama and other exciting activities to bring myths and legends from many cultures and times vividly to life.

All of our projects are bespoke - created to fit the project requirements of each school, teacher or group of learners.

Recent Myths and Legend Projects

The Magical Garden

Learning Across the Curriculum Project (Leicester Yr2).

Educational Objectives

• to improve learner confidence
• to develop imagination
• to create a spirit of enquiry
• to build group co-operation
• to make use of outside space for learning
• to develop a sense of community ownership
• to develop a ‘Learning Across the Curriculum’ project
• to take learning outside the classroom

Project Programme  

• Storytelling sessions to introduce creation myths from different cultures & times
• Creative writing workshops to create their own mythical stories
• Practical sessions both inside and outside the classroom to bring to life their own mythical creature, the Garden Guardian, and mythical land.
• Drama and dance sessions to stimulate character development and enquiry into stories from other worlds and religions

National Curriculum Links 

Links were made to all of the following areas of the curriculum ;

• Literacy
• ICT
• Dance
• Science
• Maths
• Art and design
• Citizenship

This project encouraged many creative activities and therefore many curriculum links.

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Robin Hood - Hero or Villain? 

Creative Writing Project (DerbyshireYr3)

Educational Objectives

• to develop listening skills
• to use drama to explore stories
• to present events & characters through dialogue
• to use talk to develop characters and stories
• to develop story structure

Project Programme

• Storytelling sessions to introduce Robin Hood Legend
• Drama and dance sessions to stimulate character development & story structure
• Creative writing workshops to create their own Robin Hood stories and legends

National Curriculum Links  

Links were made to the following areas of the curriculum ;

• Literacy
• Dance
• Drama
• History

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The Tudors

Using our own ‘Storytelling with a difference’ style we have created two Tudor related performances. ‘Don’t Mess With Bess’ and ‘What Ho-Henry!’. Both performances have been used as inspiration for History and ‘Learning Across the Curriculum’ projects. They are also an ideal start to our “Tudor Time Travellers” project, a series of activities aimed at bringing the whole Tudor period to life.

Don’t Mess With Bess!
Queen Elizabeth 1; Good Queen Bess; The Virgin Queen. All names for one of the most famous and exciting of English monarchs.
 
bZents have turned their attention to this great queen and in their inimitable style have created "Don’t Mess with Bess!"
 
The children at your school will bring the major happenings and many of the major players of her 45 year reign to life. Fabulously costumed and word perfect they will conjure up the Spanish Armada ( yes, all of it!) and treasure, Sir Walter Raleigh and Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Francis Drake and potatoes.

What-ho Henry! 
A fantastic romp through the highs, lows and beheadings of Henry VIII’s life. ‘What Ho-Henry!’, commissioned by English Heritage to celebrate King Henry VIII’s five hundredth anniversary of his coronation, is a marvellous introduction to one of our most famous monarchs.

Once again the children in the audience will be used to perform all the main roles in this wonderful play about this most famous of king’s life and exploits. You will be touched as Henry woos his many wives, thrilled at his jousting and archery skills, terrified at his tremendous temper.

National Curriculum Links 

Links are made to many areas of the curriculum, in particular the following:-

Key Stage 1 & 2 

Primary Framework for Literacy Learning Objectives - Strands 1-4 —Speaking, Listening and responding, group discussion and interaction, drama.

Key Stage 2 

History QCA Unit 10 – Britain and the Wider world in Tudor Times?

 Coming soon........

King Arthur

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Tudor Time Travellers

The Tudor Time Travellers project is run by our two Elizabethan characters, Rosie and Walter. We recommend the day starts with a performance of either “Don’t Mess With Bess!” or “What-ho Henry!”. The plays explore the life and times of Elizabeth I or  Henry VIII and the Tudor period. 

Then choose from any of the following workshops for the whole class:-

• A Jester Workshop- A workshop for the budding Tudor Jester.
• A Dance Workshop- How did the rich and poor enjoy themselves? Why by dancing of course. A tumultuous Branle for the poor and a sedate Pavane for the rich. What Fun!!
• Tudor Games - Using Breughel’s ‘Children’s Games’ as inspiration the games of the rich and poor are tried, tested and improved!

Educational Aims 

During the project the children will be encouraged to ;-

• Empathise with the events and people of the Tudor period.
• Develop their communication and language skills.
• Create and develop their own ideas to use in performance.
• Use their imagination.
• Co-operate with, respect and listen to, their peers.
• Experiment with new physical skills.
• Investigate social and religious aspects of the period

National Curriculum Links 

Links are made to many areas of the curriculum, in particular the following:-

Key Stage 1& 2

• Primary Framework for Literacy Learning Objectives Strands 1- 4 &6 —Speaking, Listening and responding, group discussion and interaction, drama and creating new texts.
• PE QCA Aims– PE QCA unit1/1a & 1b - Acquiring and developing new skills

Key Stage 2 

• History QCA Unit 10 – Britain and the Wider world in Tudor Times?
• Dance QCA Unit 6c —Create and perform dances using simple patterns including those from different times and cultures

We hope that this project would encourage many creative activities and therefore many other curriculum links.

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The Tales of Robin Hood

Using our own ‘Storytelling with a difference’ style we bring to life the Legend of Robin Hood with ‘Robin hood and the Silver Arrow’ and ‘Robin Hood’s Greatest Adventure. Interactive performances in which the stories are brought to life as all the characters are played by members of the audience. The stories include awe-inspiring archery contests, terrific tournaments and swashbuckling swordfights. The Tales of Robin Hood project is run by our two medieval characters Alan-A-Dale and Rosie and can include any of the following workshops for the whole class:-

• We recommend that the day starts with a performance of Robin Hood and the Silver Arrow or Robin Hood’s Greatest Adventure
• A Jester Workshop. A workshop for the budding medieval Jester.
• A Dance Workshop. A riotous dance session for all.
• A Play in a Day. Using “a play in a day” teaching technique our two Medieval characters help the pupils to create their own performance of “The Tales of Robin Hood” for their peers.

Educational Aims 

During the project the children will be encouraged to ;-

• Empathise with the events and people of the Medieval period.
• Develop their communication and language skills.
• Create and develop their own ideas to use in performance.
• Use their imagination.
• Co-operate with, respect and listen to, their peers.
• Experiment with new physical skills.

National Curriculum Links 

Links are made to many areas of the curriculum, in particular the following:-

Key Stage 1& 2 

• Primary Framework for Literacy Learning Objectives Strands 1- 4 & 6 —Speaking, Listening and responding, group discussion and interaction, drama and creating new texts.
• PE QCA unit1/1a & 1b - Acquiring and developing new skills
• PE QCA unit /6a - Dance Activities from different times
• Year 5 Literacy Narrative Unit 2 - Traditional Stories, Fables Myths and Legends

We hope that this project would encourage many Learning across the Curriculum activities and therefore many other curriculum links.

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Circus Skills Workshops

Our Big Top Bonanza Circus Workshop days have been developed to provide a taste of the fun, drama and excitement of the circus for pupils of all ages. You will see the children taking on new challenges and their joy at being successful. Circus skills are a wonderful way of developing basic physical skills such as balance and control, co-ordination and movement, rhythm and timing, and throwing and catching. They also encourage self-confidence, teamwork and co- operation. 

BZents teachers are experienced professionals who know how to motivate and encourage all the participants. They use a wide variety of teaching methods, giving the children the opportunity to see equipment being expertly used; the chance to experiment themselves; and individual attention to help them perfect their skills.
 
We aim to provide your school or group with a totally unforgettable experience.

National Curriculum Links 

Links are made to many areas of the curriculum, in particular the following:-

Key Stage 1,2 & 3 

PE QCA unit1/1a & 1b - Acquiring and developing new skills We aim to both develop basic skills and give the pupils the opportunity to take on new challenges
We hope that this project would encourage many Learning across the Curriculum activities and therefore many other curriculum links.

New for 2009

'Feel the Force' Circus Activity Days

Roll up, Roll up!  The Science Circus is in Town!!

bZents ‘Feel the Force’ Circus activity days explore the science behind the thrills and spills of the Circus. Our Science activity days have been  developed to help learners gain a better understanding of the concepts of ‘Forces and Motion’ as required by National curriculum for KS1 and KS2.

How do objects move? Why do objects fall, speed up or slow down? All the  theoretical questions and answers of ‘Forces and Motion’ are brought to life with exciting hands-on circus themed activities.

What do our ‘Feel the Force’ Circus Activity Days consist of?

They consist of practical hands on circus skills activities- each activity investigating a different type of Force.

Who are ‘Feel the Force’ Circus Activity Days for?

They are suitable for all KS1 and KS2 pupils as they are designed with appropriate development for each age group.

What are the expected learning outcomes?

We expect the KS1 learners to be able to be able to;-

 Use vocabulary relating to force and movement

 Describe situations in which there are forces acting on an object

And in addition KS2 learners to be able to;-     

Identify friction as a force

Identify some of the factors that increase friction between solid surfaces

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