Damian Harvey - Writing

Damian Harvey

AIM High Writing

Summary

Age range KS 1 and KS2
Books Yes
DBS Checked Yes

Booking
Contact
+44 (0)1535 656015
aimhigh@caboodlebooks.co.uk

Damian has written over 140 books for Primary School aged children (a mixture of fiction and non-fiction) with a range of publishers including work on popular reading schemes such as Project X and Treetops (OUP), and Big Cats (Harper Collins). Right now he’s busy writing more!

About Damian
Damian has visited hundreds of schools and libraries across the UK, and abroad, where he gives lively interactive performance sessions for children from Nursery to Year 6 that are designed to get children enthused and excited about reading and writing for themselves. Damian is a member of the Society of Authors, Literature Wales and the National Association of Writers in Education.

Damian’s AIM High Writing Days

Introduction and welcome - Includes an outline of what will be done during the day. This is followed by a short performance-based session in which Damian shows how a book is made so children can see what goes into making a book (children get to see my initial notes and planning, first drafts, rough artwork and the finished book). Damian also share some stories or excerpts, and answers any questions about himself and being a writer. As well as getting the day off to a fun and informative start, it acts as a good ice breaker and helps the children settle in.

Creating characters, settings, plot and getting started.

Using a whiteboard/flipchart Damian works with the whole class to create a simple character and setting (this can also lead to talk about different genres of story). Damian takes the lead and the children suggest things – Are they a boy or a girl? How old are they? What is their name? Where do they live? What do they like to do? What do they not like? etc. Damian will explain why he has selected certain suggestions over others: we need to think about who we are writing for, it needs to make sense, we need to use our imaginations etc.

The children then work to create their own character profiles and setting with Damian moving around the class to observe and assist. The next step is to create a story idea/plot, so the class is asked to suggest things for the character. Is something making them sad? Do they want to solve a problem? Do they want to achieve a certain goal? Again, Damian will give reasons why some suggestions are chosen over others.

Damian demonstrates how he makes a simple story plan from the chosen suggestion – a beginning, middle and end and explains the reasons for doing this – we need to have an idea where our story is going.

The children then devise a simple plot and plan for the story they are going to write. At different stages, Damian encourages children to share some of their character and story ideas with the rest of the class (if they would like to do so).

The afternoon is then spent with the children writing their stories. Times are not rigid so it is possible that the children may have started before lunch. As the afternoon progresses, children are given the opportunity to share what they have written, or what they are working on.

Curriculum Focus

Damian’s A.I.M High writing days target many of the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum – particularly the statutory requirements for composition writing at KS1 and KS2.

Damian focusses on the aspects of planning, drafting, writing and editing a story/narrative. This includes creating characters settings and plot – generating ideas and then structuring them.

After creating a piece of work, the children are encouraged to evaluate and edit it. This is done by reading to themselves, reading out loud to the table, or sharing with the whole class. The children can suggest improvements and changes themselves and, positively, to each other’s writing. In doing this everyone looks at choices that a writer makes when selecting vocabulary and grammar and the effect this has on things like meaning and atmosphere.

Drafting and re-reading is encouraged so that the children can check if what they have written is clear and makes sense – creating a story/narrative that makes sense is an important part of the day. They proofread what they have written and check for spelling and punctuation errors – reading aloud further helps with this (does it sound right? How can we make it better?).

In editing, the group look at ways that the writing can be improved and made more interesting e.g. by using conjunctions, fronted adverbials and avoiding repetition etc – also by using dialogue and description, building tension and atmosphere.

The groups also looks at including different styles of writing: diary entries, letters etc

Effective composition involves forming, articulating and communicating ideas, and then organising them coherently for a reader. One activity Damian uses is to get the children to write sentences/ideas/events on small pieces of paper. This serves to slow down the physical process of writing and allows the children more time to think. It then allows them to easily assess and rearrange what they have written. The children can see what works and what does not and can choose which things to leave in and which to leave out.

The day also includes persuasive and instructive writing.

A Selection of Damian’s Books

In Arctic Adventure, the heroes travel to the frozen Arctic to find out what’s happening to the polar bears. Whilst there, they learn about global warming and the effect it has on the natural habitat of the wildlife.  

In Bushfire Rescue our heroes travel to the Australian outback to save wildlife trapped by burning bushfires. There, discover what conditions lead to sudden forest fires, what is causing the planet to heat up and how they can help stop the fires from raging. They also come face to face with the villainous Evilooters.

In Waves of Waste, the Global Heroes are sent to Brazil where plastic waste is being washed up on the beaches and is blocking the rivers. Where does it come from and who is responsible?

Bookings
To book Damian Harvey please contact
aimhighcaboodlebooks.co.uk

Damian also offers visits to schools and other settings, click here for more information,