| 9.45 – 10.00 am |
Registration & Coffee |
Welcome, introduction to course aims, and informal ice-breaker. |
| 10.00 – 11.15 am |
Session 1: The Power of the Puppet!
|
- Tools of storytelling in action: why puppets engage non-verbal and reluctant children.
- Overcoming practitioner inhibitions: voice, breath, focus, and eye contact.
- Heuristic play: building tactile puppet and object play kits.
|
| 11.15 – 11.30 am |
Morning Refreshment Break |
Informal discussion and exploring exhibition resources. |
| 11.30 am – 1.15 pm |
Session 2: Animating the Story
|
- Connecting puppetry to children’s literature, traditional folklore, and multicultural tales.
- Craft workshop: making expressive puppets using accessible scrap, sticks, paper, and fabrics.
- Setting up enabling room environments that invite spontaneous child-led retelling.
|
| 1.15 – 2.00 pm |
Lunch |
Networking and sharing setting experiences. |
| 2.00 – 3.00 pm |
Session 3: Animating the Object
|
- Object theatre & mini story bags: letting children ascribe voices to spoons, sponges, and cups.
- Learning journeys leading to early literacy; photo and video documentation methods.
- Family learning: engaging parents and carers as co-creators.
|
| 3.00 – 3.15 pm |
Afternoon Break |
Short pause. |
| 3.15 – 4.00 pm |
Plenary & Setting Action Plan
|
- Reflections on experiential learning and immediate takeaway applications.
- Mapping techniques directly into setting EYFS observation folders.
- Q&A and resource distribution.
|