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Storyteller's Visit

On Tuesday 24 January, the author and storyteller Margaret Bateson-Hill visited Years 3 & 4. Being the day after Chinese New Year, in the Year of the Dragon, the timing of this particular event was perfect.

Year 3 were treated to a reading of Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain, a beautiful Chinese Tale, new, yet somehow full of a sense of ancient Chinese tradition, reflecting Chinese culture, and the dangers of greed. This wonderful storytelling was accompanied by impromptu drama and a lesson in the art of making paper flowers, butterflies and dragons. Year 3 were truly enthralled by the experience and have since become experts in the art of paper folding and cutting.

Margaret asked Year 4 to create their very own personal dragons, during the Creative Writing Workshop. Apart from the usual descriptive techniques employed in creative writing, the children were asked to imagine their personal dragons using the five senses. These techniques produced the most wonderful array of dragons which given their attributes will all have exciting futures ahead in the stories that will follow.

Margaret has now been visiting Highgate Junior School for several years now and as always, the visit created a genuine excitement for folklore from around the world and enhanced the children’s toolbox for use when writing creatively. We will look forward to Margaret’s visit next year.  PC

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