Annie Shirer – Doric Rhymes

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I’m gey chuffed to be able to share the news that the Annie Shirer Doric Rhymes web page (https://annieshirerrhymes.co.uk/) has been updated with rhymes and illustrations from pupils at Strichen and New Deer Primary schools!

P3/4 (Strichen) and P3 (New Deer) worked with me as a class to create some new Doric rhymes about Mormond Hill, the Culsh Monument and things they did and didn’t like as well as illustrating these rhymes and some of Annie’s original collected rhymes from over 100 years ago!

The P6/7s worked with Pauline as a class to create new seasonal rhymes about coming back to school after the summer holidays, the hairst (harvest) and rhymes about farm work and the New Deer Show. They then went off on their own into groups to create new Doric rhymes based on some of Annie’s original collected rhymes. All of this came with some excellent illustrations which you can see on the web page!

Thanks must go to Ewan McVicar who has converted me to one of Annie’s No1 fans and to The Doric Board who funded this project.

If you’d like a Doric rhyme creation workshop in your school, please get in touch with me (see “contact/links” above)

Here’s some of my favourite illustrations from Strichen and New Deer!

Three events at Aberdeenshire Farming Museum!

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Good afternoon everyone! I

I’m so pleased to announce some upcoming Hallowe’en events that are being held at Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, Aden Country Park as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and the Aberdeen and Beyond Storytelling Festival!

There are three sessions being held in the museum on Sunday 26th October.

Spooky Shadows and Ghostly Tales – a 1 hour session where 8 to 12 year olds and their grown ups can create shadow puppets and hear about some of the local ghosts! 2.30-3.30pm

https://aberdeenshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/EVSESENQ/86617275/130795121,50

It’s followed at 4pm by “Macabre Myths and Horrible Histories of Aden and Beyond” a 1 hour storytelling session for age 6+ and their grown ups. A child friendly Halloween storytelling session!

https://aberdeenshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/EVSESENQ/86617275/130795302,51

And finally, Aden’s Terrifying Tales are back!

This is the full 2 hour set of stories of ghosts and legends starting in the Farming Museum and Aden Country Park, before moving on to other supernatural tales from the local area!

https://aberdeenshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/EVSESENQ/86617275/130795308,52

Promise Group Progress!

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Look at this suspicious bunch hanging around on a Wednesday morning… What were they up to?

Well! Seeing as you asked… They were waiting to film the introduction to my Promise Group’s story! All the pupils contributed SO well today!

– best fist bumps!
– finishing last weeks shadow puppets
– cutting out a few new shadow puppets and scenery
– drawing some magical items for the story
– recording the story introduction with the hand puppets
– starting to record the audio for our film !

In doing ALL THIS today, they showed their outstanding
– creativity
– drawing and cutting skills
– courage to speak out
– voicing of characters
– attention to detail
– ability to learn and pronounce new words
– clear and audible speech
– willingness to have fun

10/10 you lot! ❤

#wecareaberdeenshire#KeepThePromise#ScotlandCares

Tarland Food and Music Festival

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A quick shout out to the Tarland Food & Music Festival which took place at the weekend – thanks folks for having me along to tell stories again this year – I had a wonderful time!

Wee Imp took these pics (check oot ma autumn dungers) during the storytelling inside at the Pavillion. It was a bit nippy outside!

A massive thanks to the committee for having me along and to the folks at the Tarland Community Garden and the folks at the Tarland Pavillion for hosting – lovely to see so many familiar faces from previous years! 🙂

Shadow Puppets with my Promise Group

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My Wednesday Promise Group have really blown me away with their designs for our shadow puppets!

Each pupil shone in a different way – creativity, attention to detail, skillful drawing, enthusiasm, great description of their ideas and confidence to go ahead and make some amazing characters !!

And the dragon… well have you ever seen such a great creation? (Assembled by me this weekend, but following precise instructions)

Can’t wait to work with them (the puppets and the pupils 😂) on Wednesday!!

#wecareaberdeenshire #KeepThePromise #ScotlandCares

Scots Song and Elephant Poo!

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The things you learn about when teaching Scots Songs!
Last night I was teaching one of three Scots Song sessions at SC&T Youth – 16 amazing singers aged 6 to 11 – and I learned that there is PAPER made out of ELEPHANT POO!

This was all in the context of learning about “The Bonnie Ship The Diamond” of course – Elephant Poo Paper is much more sustainable than the whaling industry was. We like whales, and we like elephants and now we all like Elephant Poo Paper – apparently it feels like silk! 🙂

Strichen School and the Loons an Lassikies Project

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Auld Deer, New Deer, Strichen and the Broch
Syne we’ll hae a straucht road,
An that will gar me hough

It’s my fifth visit to a North East school as part of the Loons an Lassikies project! The P6/7s and P3/4s at Strichen School will be creating new rhymes based on those collected over 100 years ago by the wonderful Annie Shirer (who can be seen in the photo below on the right wearing a wonderful corsage ).

You can find out the rhymes created so far by going to https://annieshirerrhymes.co.uk/

The project has been funded by The Doric Board and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the pupils come up with!

It’s all about the planning…

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It might be the weekend, but I’m busy busy busy planning upcoming projects!

First of all, I’ve been preparing my plan of action for the next 6 weeks with my Promise Group. We’re creating a story, working with hand puppets, making shadow puppets and filming it all before showing the film to their grown ups and the rest of the school at the end of the term!

I’ve also been planning ABC visits to care homes across the North East with funding Doric Books have received from Hands Up For Trad! The sessions will be based around Work, School and Home and will aa be in Doric – the Activities, the Blethers and the Community Singing. Three of the visits will be with Sheena Blackhall, so I’m really looking forward to that!

I’m delighted I’ve still got two visits to local schools funded by The Doric Board – working with the rhymes of Annie Shirer, a project thought up by Ewan McVicar – you can find out more about that here – https://annieshirerrhymes.co.uk/

And I’m chuffed to be covering three weeks of Scots Song with SC&T Youth – the songs have been chosen and the fun warm ups are being sung around the house!

I’m also planning the rest of the term’s stories and activities for the GREC Language Cafe. These are free weekly sessions for New Scots, those seeking immigrant status and abdy else learning English as a new language. Each session has a theme and there are often visitors who talk about what they do and what services they provide. My job is to tell a story and come up with ice breaker questions and activities for the Cafeistas. The cafe meets weekly (during school term time) at the Arts Centre on Thursdays between 11 and 3pm. Find out more here – https://grec.co.uk/language-support/

Oh! And the Guiding organisation in the UK has created some new interest badges for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Including… the Brownies’ FOLKLORE BADGE! So I’ve had fun planning some stories and activities for that.

Aye, I’ve been a busy quine!

Promise Groups with We Care Aberdeenshire

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A new project for a new term! When my pal Sarah and I over at Windswept Stories Photography were out for a walk the other month, she was telling me how she was working with care experienced children – teaching them photography skills, increasing confidence – and having fun!

“Cor. Someone should do storytelling with the groups! It’s what gave me confidence” was my response.

So a couple of months down the line, here I am working with my first group for We Care Aberdeenshire https://thepromise.scot/ #KeepThePromise #ScotlandCares

We’ve planned to

1) create a new story

2) learn to use hand puppets

3) make shadow puppets

4) film our story for the pupils ‘ grown ups, friends, and school to see.

I was so excited I had to have a lie down in the library carpet afterwards

Storytelling at the Craigston Carnival

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Coming up this Sunday! I’ll be telling stories at the Craigston Carnival from 11.30am!

The event is taking place at Craigston Castle walled gardens near Turriff and runs from 10am to 4.30pm. I’ll be telling tales of bees, seeds, gardens, naughty fairies and thirsty frogs!

There’s loads more going on though – have a look at the Facebook event here https://fb.me/e/5RaPcQhgz
🙂

“Family Fun Day in the Walled Garden in the grounds of Craigston Castle!
In aid of Crudie Playgroup
Join us for a magical day in the beautiful Walled Garden at Craigston —packed full of activities for all ages!

What’s On?
Live storytelling with the wonderful Pauline Cordiner at 11:30am
An all-day scavenger hunt to keep curious minds busy
Traditional games for kids (and grown-ups!)
Local arts & craft stalls – perfect for finding a unique treasure
Hands-on craft experiences – get creative with clay, painting & more
Hot food with The Cod Father available throughout the day

Special Touches:
Buzz by the on-site bee hives
Access via gravel and grass.
Three lengths of beautiful woodland walks ready to be explored, open all year.
Portaloos available on site

Please note: no disabled toilet facilities available

We open at 10am – come early and make a day of it!
More exciting details coming soon…

please note; the Castle remains private property and we ask that all visitors and vendors respect the privacy of the castle and it’s occupants.”