Junior & Young Writers: Week 11 - end of term showcase [build a bard workshop]

Hi Writers,

For our end of term session we went with a more casual final session that included performances and book sharing.

We started as usual by checking in using metaphors. Each person described themselves as a plant that reflected how they were feeling. Some were sprouting new flowers, others were seeds still in the mud showing no signs of sprouting, and a few more mythical plants—like a fern that grows books or a super cool plant wearing sunglasses.

Next, we played a warm-up game called What Are You Doing? In this game, one person acts something out (like jumping) while saying something completely different (like "I'm going to the toilet"). Some combinations included dancing while "cracking an egg" and running in circles while "eating a breadstick."

Our main writing activity was called "Build a Bard." It was a self-portrait writing exercise using unique thought-provoking prompts, such as:

What shape is your personality?
What materials, sounds, or textures are you made of?
What's your mission?
What gets in your way?
What monsters have you defeated?
What element or creature best represents you?

Everyone created their own character based on their answers. These included characters like:

Hamish: a mouse made of metal clogs, glass, and batteries with clanging wings.
Wilf: a soft, circular water-bender who's defeated the monster of pocket money and dreams of becoming a scientist.
Evan: a goofy metal being who has slain "school."
William: a cardboard and paper circle with a mission to become a clown, hindered by school and helped by elves and gnomes.
Juno: a fox in the shape of a cat, with tiger fur, on a mission to protect her cubs from the King Slug.
Sonny: an egg-shaped fluffy rabbit who crackles like fire.
Berry: a popcorn circle that eats itself and sizzles.
Georgie: a bubble-wrap triangle that ticks like a clock.
Leo: a dodecahedron made of hydrogen and skin who enjoys lying on the floor—part pigeon, part mystery.
Catherine: an octagon that feels like the scratchy label in your shirt, with a mission to annoy; she's also a giant ravenous guinea pig who's slain a giant pigeon.
Poppy: a heart-shaped tiger made of velcro, like a firework—starting loud, fading gently.

Next, we did a group warm-up for the showcase. This included stretching, square breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4), and vocal warm-ups. We used silly facial exercises like pretending to be horses coming out of a fridge, roaring like lions, and squeaking like mice. We also practiced a tongue twister—"I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen"—at different speeds and volumes to loosen up and have fun.

Then, it was time for our showcase!! Participants shared writing they were proud of from the term or pieces they had worked on at home or school. These included:

Eddy: a zine about Greek gods
Wilf: a musical poem written at school
Juno: a poem about a cat
William: a school piece describing a storm
Hamish: another storm-themed poem from school
Harriet: a poem about migration
Berry: a home-written story, The Murder
Sonny: a dream journal entry about mirrors as portals
Georgie: a poem on migration
Catherine: a graphic home-written horror story
Daisy: a story inspired by an in-session prompt, The Heart Collector

We finished by sharing book recommendations:

William: How to Train Your Dragon series – Cressida Cowell
Hamish: William the Fourth – Richmal Crompton
Eddy: Percy Jackson series – Rick Riordan
Wilf: 78-Storey Treehouse – Andy Griffiths (favourite in the series)
Harriet: Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
Evan: Five Nights at Freddy's series
Juno: Who Let the Gods Out – Maz Evans
Leo: Kay's Anatomy – Adam Kay
Berry: The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks series – Katie Kirby
Georgie: Twilight series – Stephenie Meyer (including the rewritten book from the other perspective)
Sonny: The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett and The Mysterious Affair at Styles – Agatha Christie
Catherine: Norse Mythology – Neil Gaiman and Dune – Frank Herbert
Daisy: The Cruel Prince – Holly Black
Poppy: A Single Thread at Midnight – Laura Wood

The showcase was a fun and casual way to wrap up a term of hard work and creativity. As always, I'm so impressed by the confidence and imagination of both groups, and I'm very grateful to witness everyone grow as writers.

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Junior & Young Writers: Week 11 - end of term showcase [build a bard workshop]