Here are the free previews of our exciting new teaching programmes for you to try out including the first Over To You activity.
Your students watch the video and then do the follow-up. If you and your students like the format that’s great – you can also check out the reviews below.
Head Teachers have been very positive about the programmes as support resources for teachers, having a dynamic impact on student Literacy and as being very popular with the students!
Details on how to buy the full programmes are under each Preview and you/your school can purchase any/all of them at these discounted prices.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS E-MAIL US info@thedramastudio.com
Thanks for previewing!
The Spirits of Stokelake House
Three friends come upon a tumble-down old mansion house which has an amazing tower. They decide to explore. A cobweb strewn parlour leads to a creaky staircase and a long corridor which in turn leads to a spiral stair – to that tower!
Their flashlight flickers on the old walls as they climb up. They find themselves inside the tower room, the door locks itself and they are a bit scared now. Unbelievably before their eyes emerge some strange images – the spirits of the house!
They have a tale to tell as the friends stand listening, spellbound. Will they be allowed to leave or are they now involved in the story that has entrapped the spirits here at Stokelake for all these years?
(10 Over To You Activities)
We are LOVING it! Great vocabulary modelled in the video. This prompted good discussion about taking our time to choose the right vocabulary when on to the written element and not rushing it.
Natalie Marnie, Livingstone
The children gave effective feedback to groups today (noting that some needed to go a bit slower in order to build the suspense and that others need to try to think about their expression and body language when they aren’t a main focus). They were excited and engaged throughout including the writing session. All my reluctant writers were focused and on task and have really given it 100%. There’s more time to think about making it better (vocabulary/ exploring advanced punctuation) because they already have their ideas in their head before writing.
They found the help screen with vocabulary and reminders really useful for chapter one so we wrote our own one for chapter two today.
“I’m wondering if there’s any resources similar to Stokelake House available yet. We finished it today and I said something like “Oh do you feel as sad as I do that we’re going to finish it today?” They replied “No because then we’ll get on to a new one!
The story build up was very engaging. The children got into the characters and really enjoyed this aspect. For the teacher the format was simple to pick up and nice to have the teaching input. You put it on, explain the follow up and it becomes from there self- guiding.
Katrina McIntosh, Canal View Primary School
The writing that they produced was very good. The thought tapping was a great exercise – it extended the writing giving it more depth. The sections are a good time length for the sitting listening part and then getting into the activity. The word banks very helpful and they highlighted success criteria in themselves
Deadeye
The story takes place in the little town of Deadeye. It’s a small town with a single street.
Deadeye was a happy place – then, things changed. There was not a single drop of rain for 3 months. The river dried up and the land was dry as a bone.
The people wondered what to do and a meeting was held at Rosie Mae’s saloon bar to decide what action to take.
At that very meeting old Josephine recalls a story her Grandpappy told her about the old disused copper mine and how a visit to that mine to take from it an important object changed the luck of Deadeye. There was, however mention of a curse but hey it was only a story after all!
Only a story? Well the townsfolk decide to visit that mine and what happened from that point on turned out to be mighty strange!
(16 Over To You Activities)
Great starting point and we were able to develop it on. The children got more confident with the activities. The time length between activities is very good- the children anticipate the Over To You! Fantastic resource from a Literacy point of view. They were immersed and totally hooked into it.
Amanda Carmichael with Primary 5
Park Bench
Two painters paint a park bench. They go to the snack van, forgetting to do a vital thing. Two people arrive with a picnic, see the beautiful bench and take a seat.
Amusing and simple Mime encourages creativity which Teachers have said is ideal for less confident students and classes that are generally more reluctant to speak.
After watching the teacher’s mimes they say what they think is happening. A speeded up section with detailed subtitles reveals what the story is. The students then try the mimes for themselves. There are writing opportunities suggested in Teacher’s Notes throughout.
The second part of the programme adds in dialogue and again the students follow this up themselves adding in their own ideas leading into writing a funny story.
(11 Over To You Activities)
We’ve finished all the mime work and I think the children are really enjoying it. They are very attentive watching the video clips. Your explanations of what to do are clear and the class are ready to get on with it when you say and now, it’s over to you’. Don’t think I’ve needed to provide additional clarification. It’s really successful and the class have been engaged with the drama from the outset.
Audrey MacLeod – Goodlyburn Primary School
