A brand new educational project, promoting understanding, patience, communication, compromise and harmony
“KEEPING IT COOL” is a fabulous new 35 minute theatre piece with extra back-up materials from Chain Reaction exploring conflict resolution for 8-11 year olds, and will launch and tour in early 2008.
The piece presents young people with tools and techniques which enable them to deal with situations in a positive manner, resolving differences before they escalate and become more serious. Young people need to learn a new way of ‘arguing’ which doesn’t involve violence but listening to other people’s viewpoints and discussing their differences until a compromise can be worked out.
Many of the teachers we work with have expressed concerns over young people’s ability to respond to conflict. As with everyday life, dispute is inevitable in school and possibly more so in urban schools with their limited resources and diverse populations. Conflict resolution has become an important topic; young people need help to cope with the problems that arise from discord and help them handle disagreements better.
To help young people learn these valuable skills, the DfES has launched the SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) learning outcomes (from Appendix 1, DfES, June 2005), and “KEEPIN’ IT COOL” addresses all the key themes of these outcomes including self awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy and social skills.
By dealing with these issues and developing skills such as “understanding another’s point of view, working in a group, sticking at things when they get difficult, resolving conflict and managing worries” (SEAL learning brief, DfES), schools will be able to “develop children as effective learners and are therefore relevant to schools without significant behaviour problems as well as to those with behaviour or attendance as key issues” (SEAL learning brief, DfES)
Because theatre engages the emotions of everyone involved (performers and audience), we have the ability to help young people to understand issues from other people’s perspectives. Our experience has proven time and again that through the engagement of emotion and other techniques, young people retain information and are more likely to be inspired to behave differently.
Chain Reaction’s work encourages confidence, self-esteem and informed choice by providing entertaining theatre packed with factual information. Our unique style uses a mixture of story, sketches, music and parody to ensure that our important messages land with maximum impact on our audience.
Our experience has proven time and again that through the engagement of emotion, young people retain information.
“KEEPIN’ IT COOL” has been developed with funding from the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (LBBD) Behaviour Support Team.
Each 35 minute performance will also be followed by a 10 minute ‘hot seating’ session, where young people will get the opportunity to ask the characters questions, discuss the issues and underline the message of celebrating and understanding diversity. “KEEPIN’ IT COOL” accompanied by a Resource Pack for teachers that will provide ideas for activities that can be undertaken in class before and after Chain Reaction’s visit to maximise this fantastic learning experience. It will also provide details of where to go for further help and support on conflict resolution issues.
“KEEPIN’ IT COOL” is taking bookings NOW, so get in touch to have this fabulous project visit your school!
…“Keepin’ It Cool” is theatre with a difference – providing 8-11 year olds with the vital tools and techniques to achieve successful conflict resolution, whilst keepin’ it, fun, keepin’ it real and keepin’ it cool!
For ages: 8 to 11
Touring: Early 2008