New Writing North Film Making 

This term our Year 4, 5 and 6 children are working alongside Sean McKenna (film maker) to create their own short film.  They have developed skills as directors, producers, writers, sound, actors and film editors as well as understanding more about film making software.  Their short films will be released at a sharing event with parents and carers and raise awareness of environmental problems.

Here's a snippet of what they've been up to...

Podcasts with New Writing North 

Pupils in year 5 and 6 have enjoyed creating their own imaginative worlds, creatures and environments.  Their confidence in creative writing grew as they were free to experiment with their own ideas and imaginations.  Click on the link below to listen to their amazing podcasts detailing the wonders of their planets.

Haiku, My-kus and more…

Pupils from Year 5 and 6 enjoyed a visit to Gateshead Library to unveiled their fantastic book of Haiku’s created with New Writing North.  The poems were put together through a series of workshops, including parent/carer contributions and made into a fabulous, published anthology of Haikus.  
As part of the grand ceremony, a number of pupils shared their poetry, including some in their Mother Tongue.  We are so proud of their contributions.  Their anthology will be added to our infant and junior libraries.

Spring Term Song Writer in Residence

This term pupils in Year 5 and 6 have enjoyed working with Liz Corney on the creation of a Journey Inspired song.  Pupils have worked on developing confidence in sharing lyrical and musical ideas through interactive games, discussion and in their creative writing.  We are really looking forward to celebrating the success of our work in an end of term celebratory event with parents and carers.  Watch this space for a recording of our Journey inspired songs...

Autumn Term’s Writer in Residence

This term year 5 and 6 are lucky enough to have Tearlach Duncanson, a theatre Practitioner and the New Writing North team to explore the art of poetry.  Pupils have enjoyed the freedom of expressing their own ideas and thoughts in a series of weekly class workshops.  They are working towards a final piece of writing to be celebrated and shared with the local community.  Watch this space to discover some of their developing ideas…

Sharing Event with New Writing North

Children in year 5 and 6 enjoyed working alongside their parents and careers in the showcasing of their creative writing.  The NWN team talked to our visitors about the writing project; our poetry, artwork and ideas.  We are really excited about unveiling our work at The Shipley in the summer term and hope the community joins us in celebrating our place in society #wearehere.  Take a look at our workshop activities...

Visit to The Shipley Art Gallery and Museum 

We had a great morning at The Shipley, working alongside our friends Laura, Amelia and Tess from New Writing North.  After a short introduction to the gallery from Hannah, we embarked on a series of quests and challenges around the gallery.  Activities included an artefact hunt with very challenging clues, the creation of a riddle based on what they observed in the gallery and the appreciation of the history of the gallery and museum; its significance for the residents of Gateshead.

Bravery Project - led by New Writing North

During the academic year 2020-2021 pupils across the school worked alongside drama, animation, writing specialists on a project designed to support children's return to full time education after a difficult year in school due to the pandemic.

Pupils and staff worked together to consider the type of writing project that may help children build confidence in school and feel at ease with change.  We decided that a creative writing project entitle 'Bravery' would explore what it is like to be a pupil at Larkspur Primary, how our school supports you when you're feeling low in mood, anxious or nervous.  

Our Maple class worked with creative writing and drama specialist Ruth Johnson and created a fantastic story help children grow in confidence and self belief entitled 'The World of Wings'.

Our Birch class worked together create an video story entitled 'Together' supporting children's transition to a new class or school.

Our Beech pupils worked with Ziad Taylor, a musician, to develop a Bravery song with a fantastic video animation created with our KS1 pupils and animator Sheryl Jenkins.

Our Elder pupils also worked with Ziad and created a fantastic music animation and song entitled 'Never Give Up'.

The stories, animations and songs will form part of our everyday values and will be shared regularly with the children to support their well being.

The children's work can be viewed in the Video Resource Library.  Please click on the link below.