Education Group New School Workshops 2012

Primary School Music, Dance, Art and Science Workshops
Education Group has launched several new school workshops over the last 12 months with a specific focus on National Science Week, Black History Month and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Our art education school workshops are mostly suitable for primary/elementary aged children and incorporate many elements of the National Curriculum.

For National Science Week, thousands of children are already booked onto an Education Group Forensic Science Workshop. Using science techniques specially developed for primary school children, each child gains an understanding of forensic science techniques in the real world.

The context of a scientific investigation brings science to life and stimulates interest at a young age. Schools can incorporate our Forensic Science Workshops into a memorable school science week. The workshop allows children to practice Science Key Stage One and Two skills such as observing, exploring and asking questions.

Education Group has launched a Snap Mosaic and commemorative plate workshop to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. With special permission from Buckingham Palace, our Snap Mosaic design uses the Official Emblem of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

In addition, we have launched African Mask Making workshops for primary schools which are proving to be extremely popular during Black History Month.

Education Group’s Mask Making Workshop is a unique celebration of African art. Each child decorates their own wooden mask sculpted in the style of the Dan Tribe from Western Africa. Masks are painted with Adinkra symbols representing values such as leadership, wisdom, creativity, freedom and independence.

This authentic workshop includes a sustainability and eco focus on the materials used to create the mask. Our African Mask Making Workshop is also offered as a package with an African dance day incorporating our specially choreographed African Mask Dance.

Our Follow the Flame Workshops are almost fully booked in the London area during 2012and we have limited availability for an audience with Olympic legend, Derek Redmond.

Education Group’s Story Factory workshop captures the imagination of your children. Children are encouraged to develop characters culminating in dramatic performances delivered by the children. This is an extremely popular workshop during Anti Bullying Week or on World Book Day.

The sessions are designed to engage and inspire children. They are encouraged to fully participate in the experience. Children increase their confidence, imagination and language skills. This workshop meets targets from Key Stages One and Two of the English National Curriculum.

For more information, visit: http://www.educationgroup.co.uk/

Education Group is the UK’s leading provider of music, dance, African drumming, science and art workshops to primary schools. We have delivered our exciting workshops to over 2 million children and continue to set the standards as the market leader.

African Drumming

Drumming is the “heartbeat of the world”, well, according to Education Group instructor Mathis Richet. The African drumming workshops offer primary school pupils the chance to learn basic African drumming techniques along with a brief contextual analysis to why it was important to create drum circles. Not only are the workshops important to give the children an insight to different cultures, but also gives them the opportunity to experience drumbeat and rhythm in unity. Furthermore, the drum beat is “good for the body and soul” according to Shonna Beckwith of Florence.

She believes that the drumming “is evocative, evoking the spirit and energy, and it nurtures self-esteem, listening and cooperation skills, eye-hand coordination and math skills.”

Within a normal African drumming session, certain outcomes are definite and connect to Shonna Beckworth’s statement. Firstly, the drumming will boost energy and receptivity of the pupils, as it will be a different experience within the same environment. Secondly, it sharpens listening and concentration skills and develops personal presence in a group. It is important for the children to work in a group as it teaches them how to share in responsibility and coexist. When you work as a team you show respect to others by accepting their input. The workshops require to children to for a sense of camaraderie as it is an important attribute to work in unison, to create their own uplifting composition, to meet the overall objective or creating something within a team.

In the workshops, the instructor provides each child with an instrument relevant to the chosen theme. In an African drumming workshop, the Djembe drum is the instrument of choice. The Djembe has a great cultural heritage in Africa. Although similar to other drums used within different tribes on the African continent, it has minute but significant differences.

The Djembe is the drum of the Mandinka people, and its origins dates back to the great Mali Empire of the 12th century. Of all the African drums, the djembe has become extremely sought after in the Western world and is regarded as the most popular.

It is also reported that drumming offers therapeutic benefits according to www.livingrhythms.com. Drumming has been made known to reduce stress and depression. Furthermore, drumming exercises the upper body, develops creativity, and elevates a person self esteem.

As African drumming raises morale, requires exercise and forms comradeship among peers, it is a great activity for a primary school, as it is within the early years where social skills can be adopted.

For more about african drumming in primary schools see www.educationgroup.co.uk