Eastfield Primary Project

A few months ago Eastfield Primary School contacted Education at 20-21 to request a bespoke project that would up skill teaching staff and inspire them to confidently embed arts throughout the curriculum. In the past Eastfield have worked with local artist Wendy Chan, who was brought in to help develop and deliver the project. 

The whole school are studying Tomb Raiders, looking at Egyptians, ancient artifacts and the histories uncovered by great explorers. An engaging topic to incorporate the arts!

15 members of staff came along to a teacher training day that spilled out into the cafe area, and saw the teacher's make books, print illustrations and take part in shadow puppetry demonstrations.

In the morning the group split into two and were taught different book binds and print techniques and how they could be used in the Tomb Raider topic as well as throughout the curriculum. Once binds and techniques were mastered, the teachers halved once more and taught the other group their book binding technique. This meant that teachers had the chance to remind themselves how the book structures worked, as well as realise how it could be taught to others in the classroom.

Egyptian imagery adorns a flag bound book cover

Flag binds with monoprinted images

Recognising the varying levels of success in mono printing and realising what issues may have occurred.

Lots of cutting, sticking and chatting about how it can be adapted to suit different year groups.

Working with artist, Wendy Chan to create screen printed tote bags to carry their creations home.

Using a basic stencil technique, the screen prints came out really crisp and sharp.

The day was one of inspiration, realisation and creativity; giving teachers a chance to explore their topic through the arts. It was important for teachers to have a thinking space and see how these workshops can be carried on into the classroom. Below are some quotes directly from the teachers about the day's activities:

"I'm looking forward to working with the artists in school."
"I thoroughly enjoyed the day, would like to have more of them!"
"The delivery was very good, very informative and gave lots of inspiration and ideas"
"Fantastic and enthusiastic leaders running the workshops."
"Delivery was fun, entertaining and light hearted. The leaders instilled confidence!"

The Eastfield project is the first time 20-21 have run a school-wide project that up skills teachers to deliver arts confidently in the classroom. Later in the year, Wendy and Hayley will be delivering workshops in the school, to ensure further embedding of arts throughout the curriculum. Follow the project on this blog or for more information on how 20-21 can deliver a similar project in your school/college, please get in touch with our Education Officer, Hayley McPhun, on 01724 297074 or hayley.mcphun@northlincs.gov.uk

Messingham Primary discover Hidden Treasures at 20-21!

When Messingham Primary School told us they were studying Ancient Egypt and Hidden Treasures, we were delighted to be able to offer them a series of workshops so their children to create artwork in response to the school's theme.

Almost 90 children visited the centre over two weeks, to look at Richard Bartle's Deities at the Bottom of the Garden and to consider why particular images and symbols are associated with different religions.

Each pupil filled in a worksheet about Richard's exhibition, and many of them asked lots of valid questions, like:

 

1) "Why do the sheds smell?"
2) "Why are some sheds facing the wrong way?"

3) "Why did Richard Bartle want to make this artwork?"

 

The answers they discovered:

1) Some of the sheds have a distinct smell that is associated with the places of worship, for the religion they represent.

2) Some of the sheds are pointing away from the others. This is because those sheds host religions that worship in the direction of Mecca.

3) Richard Bartle is interested in the act of obsession, and displayed that interest by spending three years developing ideas that link obsessive behaviours in sheds, crafting and religious behaviour.

Children were encouraged to bring along objects that they hold dear to them; objects that aren't worth much money, but are valuable for other reasons. They sketched these objects, while considering why they were treasured. At Messingham Primary, the pupils are lucky enough to have iPods to record the work they see and make. Some groups used their iPods as reference for their chosen objects or things dear to them.

Once sketches were complete, we started to construct a specialist book structure, called the "Flag Bind". This book holds lots of opportunities to hide our secret treasures away, much like the Egyptians did in tombs. There was lots of concentration in the room, when pupil's were following careful instructions for measuring, marking and cutting.

Once the flag books were put together, the group used our initial sketches, to make mono prints of them. There were some great outcomes, and some children were amazed to see their drawings recreated backwards and with different textures than they'd expected.

Once the content of the books were complete, we moved on to mono printing an image for the covers. Using Egyptian imagery for inspiration, pupils drew pyramids, palm trees and hot blazing suns to decorate the outside of their books.

 

These pictures were cut in half, and applied to the books pages. If stood in a certain position, the image is recreated into one whole - this is a conceal and reveal feature of the flag book.

One class had so much time at the end, they wrote about their Hidden Treasure, on the blank spaces inside the books - another conceal and reveal asset of this book structure. Once the book covers are pulled apart... the original image reforms to reveal itself once more.

 

Feedback from teachers and pupils reveal Hidden Treasures as one of the most successful workshops on offer at 20-21:

 

"Thoroughly enjoyed and very well led. Thanks!"

"...lof of new ideas. Thank you"

"Lots of WOW!!"

"It Was Amazing! I would do this all the time if i could, I will be coming without school oneday! because its great" (sic)

"I Liked the mono printing because it Lookes effective. It could of been better if we spent the WHOLE day there" (sic)

"10/10 because the sheds were really awesome!"

"I thought the 20-21 centre was unique in many ways."

 

It is easy for the workshop to be adapted to suit class room topics. If you are interested in booking this workshop, or one similar, get in touch with our Education Officer, Hayley McPhun on 01724 297074, or email her at hayley.mcphun@northlincs.gov.uk

 

Thanks for reading! :)