REVIEW from the TES

Two moving stories from the 12th century are featured on the CD Suffolk Tales. ‘The Wild Man of Orford’ and ‘The Green Children’ deal with strange creatures from elsewhere who challenge the generosity of the locals. An accompanying booklet gives the historical context and makes suggestions for using the stories within the literacy strategy at Key Stage 2. Told in a mixture of narrative and dramatised dialect, they bring the Middle Ages to life while making provocative connections with our own age.

Tom Deveson

EVALUATION OF SUFFOLK TALES 1

‘That little bit of extra support we all need once in a while’

As a History Co-ordinator in a large Junior School, I receive a huge amount of resource information, from people ‘offering’ to come into school, to new publications designed for Key Stage 1 and 2, but as a busy teacher I find it difficult to find time to read all the information. Then I was lucky to become aware of the CD produced by Big Toe Audio. Not only does it come in a format making it accessible to all pupils including the S.E.N children, but it can also enhance the cognitive development in the gifted pupils.

The booklet gives background information, the Chroniclers’ accounts: Questions and theories.

It provides a brief history of the castle; illustrations include a sketch of 16th Century Orford and the costumes they might have worn. The layout has been designed for ease of access and photocopying. There is a section called ‘A Guide to Use in Schools’ that gives the relevant extracts of the Literacy Strategy. I would like to point out the links that could be made between Literacy and History.

KEY STAGE 2 Historical Enquiry: ‘pupils should be taught how to find out about events, people and changes from a range of sources of information’.

Historical Interpretation ‘pupils should be taught to recognize that the past is represented and interpreted in different ways, and to give reasons for this’.

This will help develop their thinking skills (along) as we ask higher thinking questions and the answers are all in the booklet.

KEY STAGE 3 Historical Enquiry: ‘selecting and using appropriate sources’ and ‘evaluating sources used’. Here it could be used for Britain 1066-1500.

As we come to terms with Curriculum 2000, I believe that resources like Suffolk Tales 1 will help make more links between subjects and develop children’s understanding. The fact that it is all based in Suffolk is just a bonus for us who live here.

Ruth Jack

The 32 Page Booklet provides interesting and relevant background information.

CONTENTS

An Introduction to 12th Century England

THE WILD MAN OF ORFORD

Chronicler’s Account

Questions and Theories

Orford and Environs – A Brief History of the town and the 12th Century Castle

THE GREEN CHILDREN OF WOOLPIT

Comparing the Chroniclers’ Accounts

Questions and Theories

Conclusion to the Stories

Guidelines for Teachers and Parents including Attainment Targets

Script Extracts plus Dialect Equivalents in Modern Day English

Suffolk Tales 1 CD / booklet

Narrated by Peter Davison

Written and directed by Shirley Bignell

IBSN 0-95399556-0-5

Price £9:45

NEW - Big Toe Audio Productions is planning to update the presentation of the stories into the CD/ Book format similar to that of ‘Talking Caribbean’. Contents will include the full scripts and explanations of the dialect plus Curriculum Support with National Literacy Strategy Objectives and Suggestions for using the stories.

We will post the production dates on our News Page and update the Education Page accordingly. Meanwhile please contact us for any information you require.