Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at Aston cluster transition workshop, leading the new first year students in a circus skills workshops. The aim being to ease new Students with the experience of coming to high school and an opportunity to socialise with their new class mates.
The groups were much larger than expected but the workshop leaders split the group in half and worked effectively with the large group, but larger groups meant that giving instructions and having some individual input with each student took away time from other planned activities.
It was a success in that every student joined in and gained something from the experience. I myself led the instruction of juggling and flower sticks. Its been awhile since I've instucted a group of that size, but handled it well I think, as the students joined in and followed my instruction.
Thursday I spent in the office, working further on the Tell Tales resource pack, looking over the Cicus Science packs. Don't at the moment feel the science pack is appropriate for its intended use.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Sixth Week 26th of August
Tuesday and Wednesday I spent in the office working on a resource pack for the show Tell Tales. I began construction on a pack aimed as support material for teachers in primary schools, the pack consists of information about the show for example the synopsis and how it was devised, to info about Swamp Circus Trust. I also created worksheets and drama activities aimed at key stages 1 & 2 to be included in the pack.
Though I am confident in my skills creating literary and drama work for key stages 1 and 2, and the lay out of the resource pack is effective, I have limited design skills, so was unable to create a title page. This is an area I think I should develop further. Would like to learn to use the computer program Microsoft Photoshop.
Thursday was a really soggy but enjoyable day at Endcliffe Park.
Out doors for the day in a gorgeously green park, cafe to our left, children's play park to our right, perfect positioning for attracting passer bys attention. The weather was horrid, but the children joining in and really enjoying themselves kept us there playing all day. I tied banner to parks gates so passing traffic and pedestrians could see who we were, but think bigger promotional gear needed to look more professional.
Friday a workshop day fell through so I then went to the office, which led to to going over to Cliffton summer school to help manage a rather large excitable group of children perform the circus skills they had learnt over a week to their parents. Part of their show included every child going over the tight wire, I before hand would have thought this boring for an audience, but in this style of performancce parents enjoyed the opportunity to get their mobiles out and snap a picture. The time delay to their child's turn on the wire was a good thing in their eyes, may be something I consider for future work.
Though I am confident in my skills creating literary and drama work for key stages 1 and 2, and the lay out of the resource pack is effective, I have limited design skills, so was unable to create a title page. This is an area I think I should develop further. Would like to learn to use the computer program Microsoft Photoshop.
Thursday was a really soggy but enjoyable day at Endcliffe Park.
Out doors for the day in a gorgeously green park, cafe to our left, children's play park to our right, perfect positioning for attracting passer bys attention. The weather was horrid, but the children joining in and really enjoying themselves kept us there playing all day. I tied banner to parks gates so passing traffic and pedestrians could see who we were, but think bigger promotional gear needed to look more professional.
Friday a workshop day fell through so I then went to the office, which led to to going over to Cliffton summer school to help manage a rather large excitable group of children perform the circus skills they had learnt over a week to their parents. Part of their show included every child going over the tight wire, I before hand would have thought this boring for an audience, but in this style of performancce parents enjoyed the opportunity to get their mobiles out and snap a picture. The time delay to their child's turn on the wire was a good thing in their eyes, may be something I consider for future work.
Fifth Week 16th of August
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Rotherham Unity centre summer workshop.
The group was of mixed skills ability, chance to meet some of the older students who have been with swamp for many years, whos skills and confidence in performing circus skills were very impressive. Loved the show, mix of students performing singular activities, a parade of circus skills and two longer more developed comedy sketches.
Something all children enjoy during workshop is playing the clown, I assume the joy comes from performing something they may normally have inhibitions about for comic effect makes light of these areas, thus making for an enjoyable experience for them and their audience. (may consider this more, as I research clowning further)
– Saturday 21st – Hackenthorpe fair, a local community type fair, a field, lots of stalls, inflatable children play areas, centre ring.
Lots of local community, all day there was interest in the stall, people coming over having ago at the equipment, taking instruction from swamp workers and myself. There was a performance space, that had dancers, martial artists, that attracted larger audiences, could have been a great performance space, apparently had been a plan to use time at Rotherham unity centre to prepare performance for this, but due to lack of funding this didn’t happen, which seems a shame.
The group was of mixed skills ability, chance to meet some of the older students who have been with swamp for many years, whos skills and confidence in performing circus skills were very impressive. Loved the show, mix of students performing singular activities, a parade of circus skills and two longer more developed comedy sketches.
Something all children enjoy during workshop is playing the clown, I assume the joy comes from performing something they may normally have inhibitions about for comic effect makes light of these areas, thus making for an enjoyable experience for them and their audience. (may consider this more, as I research clowning further)
– Saturday 21st – Hackenthorpe fair, a local community type fair, a field, lots of stalls, inflatable children play areas, centre ring.
Lots of local community, all day there was interest in the stall, people coming over having ago at the equipment, taking instruction from swamp workers and myself. There was a performance space, that had dancers, martial artists, that attracted larger audiences, could have been a great performance space, apparently had been a plan to use time at Rotherham unity centre to prepare performance for this, but due to lack of funding this didn’t happen, which seems a shame.
Monday, 16 August 2010
Fourth Week 9th of August
Tuesday and Wednesday I supported workshop leaders at Hillsborough Fitness centre, a great venue as they were seen by lots of the general public who took great interest in all the colourful equipment and obvious fun the children were having at our event. The children were of varied skill levels, but there were so many different pieces of equipment and circus skills being taught that there was something for all the participants to get really stuck into working with. Definitely most enjoyable workshop so far, the performance for the parents was a great success.
Thursday saw me in the office inputting evaluative data created by children after workshops then making brief conclusions from the data collected. A comment that I noticed was repeated occasionally was the children wanted to know when it was possible for them to do more circus training. Maybe providing a leaflet at the end of the course saying where swamp is based and holding regular weekly training would be of value to these children or directing them to the website. Though I am unsure whether this is feasible as I don’t know Sheffield as an area and how far distances from Swamp’s regular training places would be.
Friday was a drop in day at Heeley youth club, the children were from a deprived area and the event was set up by a mother’s group intent on providing something constructive for their children during the summer holidays. Though other activities had been provided to the children a majority of the children chose to join in the circus training, the more relaxed atmosphere felt like a playing session to the children, so consequently probably they were more receptive to the skills as they were more relaxed and open to them and enjoyed it more.
Thursday saw me in the office inputting evaluative data created by children after workshops then making brief conclusions from the data collected. A comment that I noticed was repeated occasionally was the children wanted to know when it was possible for them to do more circus training. Maybe providing a leaflet at the end of the course saying where swamp is based and holding regular weekly training would be of value to these children or directing them to the website. Though I am unsure whether this is feasible as I don’t know Sheffield as an area and how far distances from Swamp’s regular training places would be.
Friday was a drop in day at Heeley youth club, the children were from a deprived area and the event was set up by a mother’s group intent on providing something constructive for their children during the summer holidays. Though other activities had been provided to the children a majority of the children chose to join in the circus training, the more relaxed atmosphere felt like a playing session to the children, so consequently probably they were more receptive to the skills as they were more relaxed and open to them and enjoyed it more.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Friday 6th of August till Monday the 9th I was performing duties as assistant to Catherine Davies at her Brahaha Cabaret nights at Edinburgh Fringe. While there I saw an amazing circus act,
Circus Trick Tease http://www.circustricktease.com/
Amazing act, lots of dancing, over emphasized comical acting and amazing circus acrobatic feats! Definitely one of my favorite performances at the Fringe.
Circus Trick Tease http://www.circustricktease.com/
Amazing act, lots of dancing, over emphasized comical acting and amazing circus acrobatic feats! Definitely one of my favorite performances at the Fringe.
Third Week 2nd of August
Began work on the Tuesday of this week as I away performing at Kendall calling festival during the weekend.
Brinsworth’s summer school - This week I supported two of Swamp’s workshop leaders, but was also entrusted to lead several warm up and focus games with the children. It was a week of circus training for primary school children, so there was a wide range of ages at the event, but the sessions were lead at an appropriate level for all to engage with and appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed by all the children.
This week I felt confidence in my skills starting to develop, I managed juggling three scarves and the flower sticks started to feel more natural to me, still no luck juggling three balls, but its almost there! This made me feel more confident helping the children while they too were practicing these skills.
Brinsworth’s summer school - This week I supported two of Swamp’s workshop leaders, but was also entrusted to lead several warm up and focus games with the children. It was a week of circus training for primary school children, so there was a wide range of ages at the event, but the sessions were lead at an appropriate level for all to engage with and appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed by all the children.
This week I felt confidence in my skills starting to develop, I managed juggling three scarves and the flower sticks started to feel more natural to me, still no luck juggling three balls, but its almost there! This made me feel more confident helping the children while they too were practicing these skills.
Second Week 26th July
First two days of my second week were spent in Swamp’s office; I began some work on the ‘ABC of Circus’ project. Using the National Curriculum’s ‘Programmes of Study and Attainment Targets ’ I structured a plan for a set of story books that would instruct a child in developing circus skills independently. This series of Circus themed story books would ideally be aimed at Key Stages 1 & 2. With the intention of developing reading skills and being a reading source for the young reader to undertake physical instruction from.
Wednesday and Thursday of this week I spent supporting two of Swamp’s workshop leaders at St Patrick’s summer school. The workshops were held outside in a white gazebo, with two lovingly made but not very professional looking banners on the front. Children arrived very excited as they beheld the tent and heard the circus themed music coming from inside.
The children were highly receptive to the leaders demonstrating circus skills and engaged well when the time came for them to practice the skills. They were all happy to perform the skills they had developed during the workshop at the end of the event. The children were dressed in colorful clown costumes, their routines accompanied by the circus music and performed in small groups the skills they felt most confident in, it all added a special element to the performance for the children and their parents.
Wednesday and Thursday of this week I spent supporting two of Swamp’s workshop leaders at St Patrick’s summer school. The workshops were held outside in a white gazebo, with two lovingly made but not very professional looking banners on the front. Children arrived very excited as they beheld the tent and heard the circus themed music coming from inside.
The children were highly receptive to the leaders demonstrating circus skills and engaged well when the time came for them to practice the skills. They were all happy to perform the skills they had developed during the workshop at the end of the event. The children were dressed in colorful clown costumes, their routines accompanied by the circus music and performed in small groups the skills they felt most confident in, it all added a special element to the performance for the children and their parents.
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