How Perform helps
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This Week's Focus
Below you can see what the children are focusing in classes this week. Click on other weeks to see what we've been doing or what is still to come.
Being back together again
After so many months away, we help the children lose any inhibitions using fun ice breaker games. We talk about the value of friendship and how great it is to be back in person again!
We also welcome any new faces to the group and help them feel part of our Perform family.
Asking for help
Fear of embarrassment by not knowing something often prevents children from asking for help.
We learn that there is no such thing as a 'silly' question and discover that we should not be hesitant about asking for help. Finally, we look at real scenarios where it might be important to do so.
Introducing ourselves
Creating a good first impression is a vital life skill. Through fun greeting games we'll discover why saying 'hello' and using good eye contact, a modulated voice and a big smile are so important.
Using a clear voice
Knowing how - and when - to use a big strong voice is a huge part of the work we do at Perform.
Fun vocal exercises help children to develop healthy vocal projection and we also discuss different voices and how to use the right one at the right time.
It's what's inside that counts
Children naturally gravitate to those who look and sound like them. In this class, we use role-play exercises to discover that it's not what someone looks like that matters, it's what's on the inside.
Try something new
Children can put up a barrier to trying new things, often preferring to stick with the familiar.
Using improvisation, we learn that it can be very rewarding to try something new. We'll all decide to try something new in the week ahead.
Taking turns
Children are innately impatient and often find it hard to wait for their turn.
We'll discuss what happens if everyonewnats their turn at the same time and learn that, if we all wait and take our turn fairly, everyone will feel happy.
Dealing with anger
Sometimes children find it hard to moderate their anger.
We'll share some great calming techniques and teach the children handy breathing exercises which they can use if this happens.
Compromise
We need to learn to compromise from an early age but it's sometimes hard to do.
Using improvisation, we'll experiment with situations where compromising results in a fair and happy outcome for everyone.
Team work
The ability to play or work in a group does not always come naturally. We discover that working as a team is not only fun but extremely effective too.
When the characters work as a team we see them defeat the Wicked Queen and save the Fairytale Forest.
Telling my favourite joke
Being able to tell a joke fills children with pride and confidence.
We look at simple techniques to help deliver joke punchlines in this session filled with giggles.
Eye contact
Sometimes children find it hard to look adults in the eye when talking to them, especially when meeting them for the first time.
Through role-play we look at why it's important to use good eye contact and how a recipient feels if you don't.
Hey, that's my line!
There's just two weeks until our show, it's an important time to recap what the children have learned and how they can best bring their character to life.
Final rehearsal
A final run-through of the show in costume.
Presentation week
The children show their parents, family and friends what they've been working on this term.
Being back together again
After so many months away, we help the children lose any inhibitions using fun ice breaker games. We talk about the value of friendship and how great it is to be back in person again!
We also welcome any new faces to the group and help them feel part of our Perform family.
Expressing a different opinion
Having the confidence to express opinions in a clear and well-structured way from an early age is a valuable skill.
We learn how articulate an argument and enjoy listening to different viewpoints.
First impressions
There is no second chance to make a good first impression!
We practice using our best clear voices, confident posture and assertive eye contact as we take turns to introduce ourselves to the group.
Delicious Diction
Ensuring that people can hear what we're saying is an important part of communicating clearly.
We learn about diction, clarity and volume and practise speaking activities to enhance their public speaking confidence.
Looking beyond what we see
Every child is special and we should celebrate the differences between us.
We role-play scenarios where we focus on the values someone has rather than what they look like and discuss how this makes us feel.
Challenging ourselves
Developing a growth mindset can help children feel positive about facing new challenges.
We encourage children to volunteer for new experiences and have a go at something they've never done before.
Learning to be patient
Learning why it's important to be patient, not interrupt and wait our turn is enlightening for older children.
Through role-play we'll discover why using a little bit of patience is important.
Conflict resolution
Every child will come across conflict and an important skill is recognise and deal with it.
We'll learn about negotiation and 'conflict resolution' is by acting out ways to resolve emotional encounters opposing arguments.
Sharing a problem
It is true that 'a problem shared is a problem halved' and we'll role-play some approaches the children may take if they have an issue.
We consider how we might deal with future situations and who we might ask for help.
Working together
Being an effective team player is great for developing confidence and communication whilst also instrumetal in helping children understand the nature of cooperation and the concept of working as a team to create something amazing.
Delivering a joke confidently
The ability to make others laugh is a skill which can be honed. We look at the importance of timing, tone, articulation and the power of a pause.
The eyes have it
Confident communication requires excellent eye contact.
We play lots of fun eye contact exercises to demonstrate why it's crucial to look into the eyes of the person you're talking to and how to embrace an audience when speaking to a group.
Line run
Running through our lines, we add the finishing touches to our character.
Final rehearsal
A final run-through of the show in costume.
Presentation week
The children show their parents, family and friends what they've been working on this term.
