What on earth happens?
What to expect from a Play in the Past Incursion
Term 4 has begun! This is the perfect time to recap what actually happens during a Play in the Past Incursion.
Besides PURE MAGIC, our past and present incursion has many moving parts that will inspire the next generations of historians.
BEFORE
You find us, you get a quote, you finalise the timetable, you confirm the date and you are BOOKED. Next, you receive one of the greatest emails of all time for a teacher, all the information in one place. It lists the proposed timetable for the day, including my arrival time, as well as our requirements and preferences.
Location: large indoor space such as an undercover area, gym or library (Classrooms work too, but I can only set up my mammoth amount of items once, so this requires a shuffle of classes which may legitimately be in the too hard basket. Classrooms are also smaller, meaning stations are closer together with less room for movement and more intense acoustics…)
Parent helpers: we LOVE grown ups that come to support during our incursions! It is so special to see parents share their memories with their children and friends. MAGIC. Now, I can almost hear the sighs and head shake. Don’t worry, I can handle the parents and like your students, they will be too engaged to be causing trouble. (They also help me pack away at the end which is a massive win).
I also ask educators to give me a heads up about their spicy students, not so I am prepared, but so I can prepare them. If there is a child with high support needs, I will make any accommodation or adjustment necessary to ensure they can experience our incursion. This is why a Social Story was one of the first things I created when I first launched the incursions.
There is also a shameless plea for testimonials: https://forms.gle/JVyVBDAkhp9RGdnq9
MOST IMPORTANTLY, is the link to our free resource bundle. Consider my horn tooted because I KNOW this is exactly what teachers need. It includes a powerpoint with 4 lessons, differentiated activities and answers. This bundle of resources could easily be half our programme!!! It has a predictions lesson, a social story, reflection and even a timeline activity. And there are some important documents like my insurance and WWCC thrown in there as well.
DURING
This is where the magic happens. I arrive, sign in, make my way to the venue (please let it be an undercover area) and get cracking. I require 4 tables (please let them be trestles) to set up the 4 EPIC stations.
Telephones: This station is very triggering for the parent helpers…. From the rotary phone, to a cordless housephone, to a brick Nokia to a smartphone, we have a huge selection for your students to play with. Yes, they all ask me if the ‘real’ phone works. Yes, I had all of them.
Toys: This is bang on the Y2 curriculum. Toys from the past. We have teddies, vehicles, dolls, potatoe people, spinning tops, music box- the lot! The main focus for this station is that we can still buy toys that are similar from the shops today BUT the materials may be different.
Technology and typing: This is station that has the heaviest box! It is full to the brim with vintage tech: typewriter, bluetooth keyboard, cameras, photos, cd players, tape players, iPod, cassettes and even some binoculars.
Homecorner and dress ups: I say it every time, this is my FAVOURITE station. Your little people get all dressed up like people from the past and get cookin! Imagine, a tweed jacket and a flat cap, pouring a cuppa. The lady of the manor in a gown, using the egg beater. It.is.amazing. Topped off with loose parts, this station comes alive! (fun fact: the older the children, the more they love the dress ups)
But, before that, your students will be whisked through an explicit teaching master piece. The 10 minute mat session is a fast paced, interactive historical extravaganza. We chant, we repeat, we model, we learn, we sort and we order. **EI purists know that effective instruction does not always require a powerpoint, but it does always require the delicate balance of intentionality, pace, rapid responses, movement and the impact of the pitch of your voice, including a well placed pause……. No, I don’t tell each student the name and purpose of each item (because… hello!) BUT the way I have crafted the mat session and the hands on stations, creates space for curiosity and wonder. Just as impactful for your students.
AFTER
As your school shrinks into my rearview mirror, I have probably already asked you to recommend me to a friend, book me for next year or requested a testimonial. Shame.less. But, I know how valuable what I offer is, and I literally LOVE what I do. I always ask for feedback, I always want to hear ways I can improve the experience for both the students and educators.
I don’t post the name of you or your school. I don’t post distinguishable images of school names or crests. I will NEVER post a child’s face, even if they have signed the waiver - NOT HAPPENING. So, you don’t have to worry about privacy. (anything you may have shared with me stays in the teacher vault).
There you have it, what to expect before, during and after our incursion. As you can see, it really is MAGIC!
Find out for yourself and book a Play in the Past Incursion for your school.
Nicola