School Visits and Workshops

WORKSHOPS

Keith is happy to be flexible if you would like him to address something specific regarding narrative writing. As a trained teacher, Keith can work with any age group at primary level. All workshops are interactive, with pupils expected to talk, think, share and write down their ideas. Below are his prices, which are, again, flexible if your budgets are tight:

30 minute assembly/ Q&A: £50

1 hour visit/ workshop: £80

Half a day workshops/ assemblies: £130

Whole day workshops/ assemblies: £220

Here are some examples of workshops Keith can offer for all age ranges at primary level. Do let him know if you would like something specific:

Y1-4: AGENT PURPLE PANDA: Keith will read the story and then ask pupils to explore ideas around ‘soft toy spies’, helping to develop ideas for a sequel using their own toys.

RECEPTION- Y4: GADGET WORKSHOP: Creating soft toy spy gadgets and characters using Purple Panda 2 as inspiration.

Y1-4: THE MARVELLOUS MECHANIC Developing a plan for a story, using the structure of The Marvellous Mechanic. Pupils will be encouraged to think of the next machine Millie could use in her adventure and who she will save.

Y3-5 EDITING Using a (purposefully) bad version of one of Keith’s stories, pupils will be asked to read, edit and feedback how they would change the writing. Pupils will look for improvements under four topics: SPaG, Structure, Vocabulary and Content and Keith will guide them through how he edits and what it feels like to receive feedback.

Y3-Y6 WRITING USING THE 5 SENSES. This is a skills workshop, which encourages pupils to try out different techniques, using the 5 senses, as well as other skills such as the use of powerful verbs, personification, onomatopoeia and abstract nouns, depending on the age group.

Y3-6 SETTINGS. THROUGH THE SEASONS This is based on Keith’s book, Nature Boy. Pupils are given the opportunity to explore the outside space of their school, using their senses to note down the nature around them and the changes of the season. Back in the classroom, Keith guides pupils into writing their own descriptive paragraphs, using a number of different figurative skills.

Y3-6 BUILDING TENSION. Using Keith’s own writing, pupils explore the skills of keeping a reader gripped, including using short sentences for effect. keeping the reader guessing before revealing the danger and adding layers of problems to the story. Keith uses an excerpt from his book Perfect Prehistoric Pets to highlight the skills he uses to create tension.

Y5-6: TRUTH AND FICTION IN NARRATIVE WRITING: Exploring the idea that the best writing comes from a basis of truth for the writer, with a hint of the extraordinary. This session will develop pupils’ imaginations and lead to them writing their own narrative pieces.

Y4-6 WHAT’S BEHIND THE DOOR? Using Keith’s newest book, The Doors of Doom, pupils will create their own chapters based on what might be behind a certain coloured door. Keith will guide them through, giving multiple examples from the book. Think the different rooms in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but with added peril!

Y2-Y6 ROBOTIC CHARACTERS. Using several different characters from Keith’s newest book ‘The Doors of Doom’ as inspiration, pupils will design their own robot characters and set them in one of their own stories. This is a very creative workshop and could lead us anywhere (in time!)

Y3-Y6 DIARY OF A ROOKIE ROMAN GLADIATOR: Using his book ‘Seizing Caesar’ as inspiration, Keith carries out drama workshops transforming the classroom into the gladiatorial arena. Pupils act out a typical day at the Colosseum, considering the sights, sounds, smells and tastes around them, ready to write a diary entry of their trials and tribulations.