KS1 drama workshops for primary schools
Our KS1 workshops get Year 1 and Year 2 pupils up on their feet. We use drama, role play, games and songs to explore topics such as the Great Fire of London, explorers and significant people, so pupils remember the facts because they have been part of the story.
How a KS1 workshop works
Sessions are high energy but focused. A practitioner in costume introduces the topic, leads a vocal and physical warm-up and then takes the class on an interactive journey, using games and role play to cover the key information. We finish by going back over what the children have learned. Workshops normally last between 60 and 90 minutes and work best with a class of around 30, although we can take up to 60 pupils at once.
All of our KS1 workshops are linked to National Curriculum topics, and we can tailor a session to fit your scheme of work.
KS1 workshop topics
Click a topic below to see what the session covers. If the topic you are teaching is not listed, ask us. We can often design a workshop to fit.
We invite your class to become explorers with us and ‘habitat hop’, searching for different animals. We visit habitats across the world before really focusing on Woodland and Urban habitats. Using topic-based vocabulary, puppets, masks and costumes, together we bring the habitats to life. Alongside songs, movement activities and games, we also examine the 7 life processes, food chains and life cycles.
Ahoy there me hearties! Meet our Chief Explorer and Pirate Pete and take on their challenges to see if your class has what it takes to join our exploration! Along the way students will ‘become’ famous explorers, learn about navigation and why people explore!
Journey with us to the Masai Mara in Kenya! Once there we explore the animals and climate, touching on the food chain and using fun drama based activities to study the different creatures and their habitats. We will also learn sections of songs from ‘The Lion King’ as well as different call and response chants and tunes from the musical.
Bring History to Life and invite some ‘significant’ people into your classroom. Allow your class to meet characters such as Christopher Columbus, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, Bear Grylls, Florence Nightingale and Shakespeare. The characters talk about their lives and invite the children to aim high!
What is an explorer, meet our Chief Explorer and Christopher Columbus as we find out why people are driven to explore! Learn about Columbus’ life, discover the ships of his voyages and pass our navigation test to become part of the crew!
Bring the Great Fire of London to life with an exciting, immersive workshop that puts pupils right at the heart of London in 1666.
Led by characters including Samuel Pepys, pupils discover how the fire began, why it spread so quickly and what life was like for ordinary Londoners caught up in the disaster. Rather than simply hearing the story, children become part of it, taking on roles, forming a bucket chain, helping residents escape, crossing the River Thames and making decisions about what they would save as the fire approaches.
Through drama, storytelling, role-play and hands-on participation, pupils explore the crowded streets and wooden buildings of Stuart London, the lack of a modern fire service, the devastation caused by the fire and the enormous task of rebuilding the city afterwards.
Meet Queen Elizabeth II and Henry VIII and discuss what it means to be a monarch. After this, your class is invited to establish their very own ‘country’ choosing an appropriate name and establishing country rules! We will crown your class King and Queen, elect MPS and even invent our own National Anthem!
What does it mean to be a superhero? Have Captain America and Spider Girl visit your class and explore different ‘super’ qualities. We also explore comic book sounds and characters and invite your children to pass our physical superhero challenges!
What teachers say
We also run EYFS workshops for Nursery and Reception and KS2 workshops for older pupils. Have a look at all of our curriculum workshop formats, including character visits and play projects.
Book a KS1 workshop
Let us know your topic, year group and preferred dates and we will come back to you with availability.
Every member of our team is DBS checked, Kirsty Dickson is our designated safeguarding lead and we are fully insured.