Circus Days
An inspirational day designed by Steve Richards Bed Hons P.E
A day that will inspire confidence, improve coordination and fire the imagination of all your pupils.
BENEFITS OF JUGGLING - click for more information
Steve began exploring circus skills during his training as a P.E. teacher and wrote his dissertation on how it was an alternative way to engage pupils of all levels in sports. This pioneering work has led to Steve designing projects for The Home Office, Arts councils and The Sports Council to name a few. Splats teachers and teaching materials now help thousands of schools all over the country use Circus skills to help pupils with their hand eye coordination, balance, learning skills, confidence building and teamwork.
These are popular for school activity days, as parts of arts projects, after school clubs, summer schemes and community projects or just a fun day. We can teach anywhere.
SPLATS CIRCUS PROJECT - click for more information
We also now have a Splats Circus Project where on the day you will receive over £70 worth of free juggling equipment with additional teaching material including a specially designed teaching book, project worksheets and a DVD to help you develop these physical skills in your school.
The Day
We start with an initial assembly to introduce the ideas and techniques to the children so they are already learning and contemplating before their actual physical practice.
After this, one class at a time (maximum 35 pupils per class) take part in a selection of balance and coordination challenges. We use very structured lessons where each skill is broken down into its component parts. The pupils all receive a Skills Certificate (CLICK HERE FOR A PREVIEW) and, should the school wish, they can also order a Splats Pack so pupils can continue their learning (CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS). A percentage of this goes towards free juggling equipment for the school.
We are the experts in teaching circus and after your day (and before) we are always on the end of the phone should you require any help or advice on introducing circus into your school.
FAMILY WORKSHOP
After school we can hold a family workshop for an hour with parents and pupils. This will help the parents understand and enjoy what their children have been learning and of course encourage them to learn together and challenge each other when they get home! We can also sell the Splats pack on the day which is fantastic value at only £6 and contains scarves, beanbags, a spinning plate, 2 peacock feathers - enough to challenge everyone.
Prices start from £140 (plus Vat) to £360 (plus Vat)
We also a have a discount for booking more than one day.
Please email or call for further information.
SKILLS TAUGHT
- Juggling Scarves
- Juggling balls
- Diabolo
- Chinese Ribbons
- Spinning plates
- Peacock feathers
- Stilts
- Poi
We teach initially with scarves as they float and therefore make it possible for even the youngest child to catch. They are great for encouraging pupils to make up tricks of their own and for partner and group work. You can also use them to teach the 3 object pattern although there’s no substitute for using beanbags to actually learn the cascade.
We teach using beanbags as they are softer than balls and easier for children to catch. The splats ball/ beanbag we have designed as part of our splat pack is a really perfect tool for learning to juggle. We teach pupils 1 – 3 ball juggling. The key pattern you will find out is to learn to cross the balls in an alternate pattern rather than passing them in a circle. To help learn this, the secret is - believe it or not – is to encourage pupils to drop. If you take the emphasis away from the catching and place it on the throw – eventually the catch will take care of itself.
Diabolos are brilliant for Year 3 (ish) and above. Once you can get the diabolo spinning it can be thrown and caught in as many ways as you can imagine. The pupils will really take over and teach each other.
A really beautiful way for the pupils to express their movement. Very simple to use so ideal for all ages and particularly good when linked with music and dance.
Never ceases to fascinate children and adults. They are great as they can be used by children as young as nursery as just to balance the plate on the stick is visually interesting. To actually get the plate spinning from a standing start is the key and a great challenge.
By far the best way to introduce pupils to the concept of balance. Because they move so slowly it enables the pupils to move with them and with such a visual cue of the eye of the peacock. Balance on a finger - chin – nose!
We use hold on wooden stilts – very safe but still a great challenge as the pupils can get the chance to be as high as the teacher. The teacher of course usually can’t resist getting on and reliving their childhood.
We use both mouse poi which a re great for younger pupils and soft tail poi. They are a great way to develop coordination and rhythm – excellent for shows and for use with music. We also have small poi flags – very visual and rewarding to spin.
Age Range: Nursery through to Secondary and Adults