Group Storywriting

Duration: 2 hours Schools/3 hours Community Group*
Age: 7 – 11
Location: School Classroom or Bournemouth University
Suitable Group Numbers: School Class 30/Community Group 20 max.
Staff to Child Ratio: 1:5

Workshop details:

Participants are encouraged to use their imagination to write a story together, in response to prompts given by the session leader. As they come up with ideas, the story takes shape on a large screen in front of them and the class can watch as an illustrator creates live artwork to accompany it.

In the second half of the session, the children work in small groups, aided by a writing mentor, to write and complete the second half of the story. They are also encouraged to add pictures to their story which, when completed, they share with the class. Each child goes away with a printed booklet of their story and illustrations – and their picture, as author, on the back cover.

Green Screen Workshop

Duration: 2 hours 
Age: 7 – 11
Location: Bournemouth University
Suitable Group Numbers: School Class of 16
Staff to Child Ratio: 1:4

Workshop details:

Using the green screen studio at Bournemouth University, the class will write their own script and make a short film using green screen technology. Guided by The Story Works volunteers the class will use their imagination to create and film their unique vision.

Comic Workshop

Duration: 2 hours 
Age: 14-18
Location: Bournemouth University
Suitable Group Numbers: 30 max.
Staff to Child Ratio: 1:5
* Only for students studying or interested in art

Workshop details:

With the help of AUB illustrators, students will design a four-panel comic with an emphasis on narrative. During the first half of the session, volunteers will discuss examples of comics and the components that make one successful. Students will complete a starter activity in groups and brainstorm dialogue pieces that could be used in a comic. After lunch, students will pull from the dialogue pieces to create their own short comic.

Songwriting Workshop

Duration: 4 weeks (1-2 hour lesson blocks)
Age: 14-18
Location: School Classroom or Bournemouth University
Suitable Group Numbers: 10-30
Staff to Child Ratio: 1:15
* Only for students studying or interested in music

Workshop details:

Over the course of four recurring lessons, students will learn the principles of songwriting, develop their own writing voice, and will write and compose an original song. All classes until May 2025 will be taught by Liz Moss, an experienced singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.

Week 1: Intro and Identity as Songwriters (discuss what makes a good song, look at hooks, identify our influences)
Week 2: How to Write a Song (a look into basic chord progressions, melody writing, metaphors, rhymes, and song structure)
Week 3: Songwriting (in groups or as individuals, students wrote a song from a prompt)
Week 4: Workshop and Recording