Using an imaginative narrative context we invited the children in Year 2 to decide exactly what we were going to do. This could have been a bit scary for the teachers but they were fantastic and really embraced it, knowing that we could use our 'friendly Estate Agent looking for help' to bring us back onto task if required - it wasn't! Having worked on a number of projects with Downs Barn First School, we have a good working relationship where we can really begin to challenge the status quo... this is exactly what we did when we linked into their Local Area project. Amongst the children's suggestions were writing letters, making a poster, telling people via the internet and messaging. The most popular idea was making a film about the area to show to potential residents. So, a film it was.
We were keen that the chidren were totally in control of their film and to this end we set up a Production Meeting where roles were chosen, areas of focus decided, scripts written, locations chosen and storyboards made. The children's roles of Presenter, Director and Camera Operator were clearly defined to ensure that everyone was unvolved and working well together. Once the DVD was made, the film was premiered to the rest of the school and a copy sent to the Estate Agent who wrote to them to thank them for their efforts. Want to see the film? Downs Barn - A Good Place To Live