Framlinghamian 2023-2024 Single page - web 144dpi - Flipbook - Page 18
SPIRIT OF INQUIRY
Horrible Histories and many historical
Seigal, who ran a number of fantastic
documentaries. In November, Year 3
and immersive poetry workshops in the
joined Mark for an interactive all-day
Summer Term. With multiple poetry book
workshop to introduce the children to the
titles published under Bloomsbury, many
fascinating world of the Ancient Egyptians
of Josh’s poems have been featured on
through the eyes of an Egyptologist, and
CBBC, BBC Bitesize, and recited by pupils
to take them on a journey through the
at our own Poetry by Heart competitions.
mysteries of mummi昀椀cation.
Addressing pupils from Years 3 – 7, Josh
During the day the pupils took part in a
performed some of his favourite pieces
number of activities, including a fact-
of work from his latest book ‘Who Let the
昀椀nding quiz on Egyptian life and death,
Words Out?’ and award-nominated ‘I
a game of the Hounds and Jackals – a
Don’t Like Poetry’. These included ‘Zap’
traditional Egyptian board game, and
in which Josh has the power to zap away
a presentation of a range of Egyptian
anything which makes him feel infuriated,
artefacts, many of which came from
‘Sand’ which adds comedy to the irritation
Mark’s own personal collection.
and annoyance of sand on the beach, and
‘Bluebell’, a poem dedicated to Josh’s pet
The pupils then enjoyed an afternoon
cat who always seems to get into trouble.
of re-enactment, learning all about
Many of Josh’s poems explore meaningful
how the Egyptians dealt with the death
and personal topics within a framework
of a pharaoh, tomb building and
of humour and wit, and he encouraged
decorating, mummi昀椀cation and burial,
our pupils to think of awkward or
and the coronation of a new pharaoh. The
embarrassing moments and transform
event 昀椀nished with ‘hunting on the Nile’
them into something funny and powerful
and further use of Mark’s artefacts to
through poetry.
demonstrate to pupils the many skills,
techniques and tools the Egyptians used
Josh’s latest book focuses on feelings, so
daily.
he asked pupils to pick an emotion and
write a 昀椀ve-line poem about it. Alongside
In January, our Year 5 pupils had a
key poetry elements such as repetition,
fantastic day participating in an immersive
simile, metaphor, alliteration and
hands-on workshop with The History
onomatopoeia, Josh also encouraged
Squad re-enacting the battles of 1066
pupils to use descriptive words expressing
donned in the clothing, weaponry and
colour, smell and feeling to bring their
armour of the Saxons, Vikings and
poems to life. Confusion, happiness,
Normans.
craziness and love were just some of the
emotions chosen by pupils who performed
Another notable guest speaker to the
their poems to their peers.
Prep School was highly acclaimed,
Talking about how he became a poet,
award-winning professional poet, Joshua
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