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The Helicopter Method - A Unique Training Opportunity

Playtrain aims to host a unique training opportunity to give practitoners working with young children an insight into the Helicopter Method of Storytelling and Story Acting as developed by renowned early year’s educator, Vivian Gussin Paley.

The Helicopter Method grew out of Vivian Gussin Paley’s first book ‘The Boy Who Would Be A Helicopter’ and enables children to tell their own stories under their own direction. The technique involves writing down, word for word, stories that are dictated by the children. A performance space is then created, and the children are invited to act out the stories. They choose which characters they are going to play within the story and also nominate other actors, their peers, to take part. The story is then acted out in front of the rest of the group.

Story Acting can become a regularly enjoyed activity within a classroom or setting, fostering the need children have to connect themselves to one another through their play and stories. The technique is known to improve and develop children’s communication, social skills and confidence. It can be applied to all ages and abilities and can help tackle the issue of exclusion in the classroom as well as introduce the children to the basic elements of creating theatre at an early age.

Playtrain is delivering the course in partnership with London based, Make Believe Arts, who have been successfully delivering the Helicopter Method in schools and pre-school settings and providing INSET training around the South East.
The training will demonstrate how the Helicopter Method works and provide opportunities for staff to explore the philosophy behind the approach; try out the techniques in a safe supportive environment and help to install confidence so that trainees are equipped to put the techniques into practice within their own setting.

In the first instance we are inviting people to express an interest in attending the course. The cost will be £80 for each trainee for one day’s training.

Please email sandra@playtrain.org.uk to express an interest or for further information.