Scotch College

Junior School Literature Festival

Students in the Junior School celebrated this week in a variety of ways, with all year levels having their day of rotating activities. In addition, the Book Fair ran for three days and was a phenomenal success, and author Libby Hathorn entranced Year 5 and 6 boys with tales of her writing experiences. Literature-based competitions were popular at lunchtimes, and parents enjoyed reading the books that each and every boy in the Junior School had produced. The final activity was a book character parade, in which there was an intriguing number of book personalities represented, with Harry Potter a popular choice. This was a most exciting and enjoyable week for all students.

Ms Alison Hindson

Prep/Year1

These boys began the week in grand style. They enthusiastically made, and then wore, super-hero costumes based on the book 'Max' by Bob Graham. Authors Janet and Andrew McLean informed and entertained when they read some of their delightful picture story books. Andrew amazed the boys with his pastel illustrations of characters from their books, and we are fortunate to have retained these. Books Illustrated provided a gallery of books in the making, and original art pieces. According to the boys it was a great day!

Mrs Anne Kimber

Years 2 and 3

The Literature Festival began with the making of Pog, a cute, green and friendly monster who is scared of children. The children loved reading this book as Pog searches in cupboards and under beds looking for children in the night.

The boys then laughed their way through a sketching session with Kevin Burgemeestre, an illustrator and author. Kevin taught the boys many aspects of sketching and how to make characters seem more realistic.

The Books Illustrated Gallery provided lots of inspiration for young authors as they studied how the book 'The Butterfly' came to be published. The boys were given the opportunity to see many original art works from many well-known authors and illustrators.

The day ended with an hilarious performance by Shakin' and Suspicious as they made the story 'Isabella's Bed' come alive. The boys laughed as the two performers used few props, but lots of imagination to retell the story of Isabella's life.

The boys totally enjoyed all activities and I have no doubt that they are more encouraged and motivated to create their own literature.

Ms Chris Carney

Year 4

The Literature Festival proved to be a source of inspiration for the boys in Year 4.

The activities, conducted over two days included an art workshop with Mrs B from Zart Art, a visit to the Books Illustrated Gallery, a talk by author Margaret Clark and the performance by Karm Gillespie of 'Banjo's Billabong'.

Inspired by the text, Ernie dances to the Didgeridoo, by Alison Lester, each boy produced a framed picture, borrowing and adapting the ideas used in Aboriginal art. Using pens, ink pads, foam, paper and card, the boys combined simple drawings and repetitive pattern work of lines, dots and shapes.

The talk given to each class by Margaret Clark, was both lively and entertaining.

She explained where the inspiration for several of her stories had come from and shared some of her earliest pieces of writing, completed when she was a child. The boys were kept enthralled and amused for over an hour, before she signed books and answered their many questions.

The culmination of the Festival for the Year 4 boys was the wonderful presentation of the works of Banjo Paterson, by Karm Gillespie. All boys enjoyed the performance immensely, many experiencing the works of the great poet for the first time.

Ms Debra McMenamin

Year 5

The thoughts that spring to mind instantly are ones of fun, great learning, excitement and great motivation for reading and writing.

The Year 5 classes had a writing workshop with Andy Griffiths, who talked about how he writes and gave strategies for boys to be better writers. He showed us how to write in his style of literature, plot development, and how to add humour. During our session in the art room with Zart Art the boys explored ways to express the visual impact of the book 'Fox' by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks. They produced an oil-based crayon rubbing of a fiery fox shape. Another session was spent finding out how a picture book is made.

We looked at the ideas of the story and the roles of the editor, the publisher and the illustrator. The day ended with a great performance entitled 'Banjo's Billabong' performed by Karm Gillespie. It was based on a selection of Banjo Patterson's poetry and his life.

In all it was an inspiring day, enjoyed by Year 5 boys and teachers.

Mrs Liz Wyatt

Year 6

The Literature Festival concluded with the Year 6 day. The boys were excited about the planned activities, especially after seeing and hearing about the activities other year levels had undertaken.

Author Brian Caswell spoke about how to get ideas and how to develop a story. He gave handy hints on brainstorming ideas and placed a lot of importance on developing the character and on planning how a character goes about solving a problem or changing an outcome to an event. He encouraged the boys to think about 'What if…..?'

The short-listed title, 'The Lost Thing' was used to stimulate a collage style of art response. The boys created a piece of artwork that highlighted shapes as backgrounds, charcoal colours and the unusual shapes for a mystical thing. Great enjoyment was had while creating their literature responses using art skills and techniques.

Mr Brian Sampson