As part of our literacy and drama work, we explored the poem "What the Shoemaker Heard" using Jumpstart techniques. The children began by identifying and collecting sound words (onomatopoeia) and nouns that might be heard in a shoemaker’s workshop. They then used these to write their own sound poems, focusing on rhythm, repetition and imagery.
To bring the poems to life, we performed them together using expressive actions and voices. Each child contributed to the performance, using movement to match the sounds and words they had written (drama). We also incorporated musical instruments to enhance the sensory experience. Children used percussion and other instruments to recreate noises such as tick tock, tip tap, and swish swash, adding a rich layer of sound to their spoken words.
This multisensory approach helped deepen their understanding of how language can evoke sound and emotion, and encouraged collaboration, creativity, and confidence in speaking aloud.
