Primary School Workshops
Creative Reading and Writing

Workshop 1: Create an audio book

An interactive workshop led by our facilitator, and using the centre’s sound studio to create an audio CD of exciting extracts from your favourite books.

Duration of workshop:
1 and a half hours

Maximum group size: 28
Age range: Junior 7 - 9, Senior 9 - 11
(also available for post-primary groups aged 11 - 14)

Cost: £40 per group

This hands-on workshop will feature voice characterisation, sound effects and creating atmosphere through storytelling. Every child who reads a book has their own idea of what each character looks and sounds like. This workshop allows them to create a sound recording of a passage from a classic book.

Pupils will first of all work with a facilitator who will
guide them through a passage from a chosen book,
pointing out opportunities to add sound effects like doors creaking or animal noises.

Then they will perform what they have rehearsed in the Verbal Arts Centre’s sound recording studio, producing and burning a CD to take back to the classroom. Interested teachers should book in advance, stating which books they would like featured during the workshop.

Creative Writing example:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Did Roald Dahl get it right? Would you like to create another winner of a golden ticket?

Augustus Gloop, the greedy boy, Mike Teevee,
who had square eyes, and the other lucky winners had personalities suggested by their unusual names...could you imagine new characters and describe how they behave at the factory?

Work with a story developer in groups and imagine a new tale of what happened beyond the gates of the
most famous factory ever!

Workshop 2 details >>