WORKSHOP
Make a non-fiction book: a role-playing workshop
(Y5, Y6, Y7, Y8, Y9)

Overview
 A hands-on role-playing workshop where children work in teams of four (author, editor, illustrator, designer) around an A1 sized activity worksheet. The end result is a 16-page A4 non-fiction book. The workshop offers children the chance to follow the key stages in making books: title, research, planning, editing, proof-reading, blurb writing, designing, illustrating, printing, selling . . . and more. It's fast-paced and mimics the deadlines of real life. It also highlights the need for people to work co-operatively as part of a team.

Curriculum links
The workshop has relevance to several strands of the curriculum, including Literacy (planning a synopsis; proof-reading); Numeracy (the price of books); D&T (designing and illustrating a book cover); ICT (the role of research); PSHCE (teamwork; co-operation; communication; decision-making) and Enterprise/Work-Related Learning (publicity and selling the book).

Age range
 Suitable for Y5 to Y9 pupils (age 9 to 14).

Size of group
 The ideal group size is 28 to 32, which is usually one class. The absolute maximum number I can work with in one session is 40.

Duration
Y5 / Y6 - please allow a full morning or afternoon - it is an intensive session.
Y7 / Y8 / Y9 - please allow a minimum of 2 hours.

Location
 A classroom or library is the ideal location as children need to work in groups at tables.

Pre-visit workshop preparation - the 'must do' stuff
Please prepare the children before my visit as this will save precious time on the day. Here are your instructions:

  • Divide the class into groups of 4.
    If you have an odd number of children, it's OK to make one or two groups of 3. (Example: class of 30 becomes 6 groups of 4, and 2 groups of 3.)

  • Mix the abilities and break up the friendship bonds.

  • Assign job roles to the children in each group. A memorable acronym is:
    I = Illustrator
    D = Designer
    E = Editor
    A = Author

  • If you have a group or groups of 3, let them share the job of the fourth person.

  • Groups will need pens, pencils, felts, rulers, sharpeners, erasers, and so on.

  • Arrange the room so that each group has its own work table. Tables should be separate from each other, with children sitting around the table (two children on each long side works best). Tables must be large enough for the A1 worksheet (that's 8 x A4 size) to lie flat.

Pre-visit general preparation
Your children will get a lot more from my visit if you do some background work a few days before I come in.

Here are some ideas:

  • Introduce children to my books.
    - Can they find any in the school library?
    - Can they borrow any from the local public library?
    - Can you borrow a selection of my books from your School Library Service?

  • Introduce children to this website.
    - Set them a self-directed research task, such as a piece of biographical writing or storyboarding about the author John Malam.

  • Click here to see examples of biographical work produced by Y5 and Y6 children in preparation for my visit:
    (opens in a new window): Examples of Y5 / Y6 pocket biographies

Preparation on the day of my visit
 On the day, please make sure I have:

  • Two or three good-sized tables to set up my display materials.

  • Two or three adult helpers for the workshop session (classteacher, TA, HLTA).

  • Lots of water to drink.

  • A school dinner!

 
A group of four working on their book.
An author writing his plan.
An editor editing a
prepared text.
A designer laying out his group's book cover.
An illustrator illustrating her group's book cover.
Some finished books.