Activity

Last Thursday, Silvia from Global Generation and I went to a school in Oxford to work on a film and carry out some ‘Free Fall Writing’ on the Universe Story.
I’ve always been inspired by Jennifer’s wonderful books and have often used them in the classroom to further develop children’s understanding of the Universe Story. The Story, being in 1st person and including ‘values’ makes it, I feel, easily assessable as ‘US’ and very powerful. At GG we have also been experimenting with this form of writing. Below are two examples from 11 year olds in the school that I thought members might like to see: –
Peaceful. That was the only word I could describe it with. I was surrounded by a deep sea of nothingness. In my mind I could see mysterious objects swimming through my invisible sea. I could imagine people crawling through trenches, communicating with each other. I could see animals in tress, on the ground and under the earth. I could see disaster and worry but also happiness and forgiveness. And then throughout time, they came to be. Planets and stars and you and me. The men fought for themselves, the women at home, beautiful and radiant: like my creation.
The Universe – Mary

In the beginning there was no time and space. I felt tranquil and patient for a long long time. I started rising from the Nothing-ness getting larger, overwhelmed and creative. But this is all so confusing. What’s happening? Am I doing this? To my shock and delight I exploded with courage, strength, boundless powerful forces. I was loud. I was colossal. I was…….magnificent. Galaxies and stars, all beautiful and glowing. Oh how I am shining and shimmering. Planets and stars everything is incredible, fantastic inventive. But this is only the beginning and I am the amazing Universe.
By Lucy.