Thurrock Trailblazer Cultural Catalogue 2019-20

CHALLENGE
59
Challenge 59 empowers young people and their teachers to actively engage in health and
wellbeing issues in their communities, through the co-creation of 59 second issue-based dance
films. Through teacher training, schemes of work, digital resources and school dance and film
residencies, Challenge 59 is a vehicle for learning and self expression.
Having been supported by Arts Council in 2018, Challenge 59 was selected as 1 of 100 top
education innovations in the world for 2019.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
CHALLENGE 59 DANCE & FILM PROJECT
Upon hearing a fast food restaurant promise to
serve its customers within 59 seconds,
Challenge 59 asks what could be done to
empower young people to take ownership of,
and engage in, their own
wellbeing in a short space of time.
Challenge 59 offers a CPD day, facilitated by
leading dance and film professionals. The
project is also accompanied by free digital
resources to support school implementation.
These include a 6-week dance scheme of work
linked to health, a film toolkit, play cards,
commissioned music, reflective tools and
dance tutorial videos.
Challenge 59 has a track record in
collaborating with teachers in schools and
other educational settings across the academic
year, supporting them with ongoing
communication.
Previously schools have used Challenge 59 to
span the course of the academic year:
undertaking CPD during October/ November,
explored resources in Spring term and
produced 59 second films in time for a summer
film premiere/ sharing with whole school
communities.
In 2018 an external evaluation report by
University of Bath showed significant results
linked to children’s wellbeing personal resource
KS3 KS4 KS5
– confidence, improved self-perceptions
(particularly boys), increased expression,
resilience, collaboration, engagement in, and
enjoyment of school, feeling calmer,
overcoming stress and apprehensions.
SUITABILITY
Whilst dance activities are ideal for KS3,
schools may decide to involve KS4 & 5
students to co-produce the 59 second dance
for camera films.
Challenge 59 can be tailored to suit your
school needs. Previously whole classes,
targeted groups of students or mixed age
ranges have taken part, Some teachers have
chosen to open the challenge to the whole
school before voting on a film idea or
storyboard most pertinent to their school
community.
DATES, LOCATION & FORMAT
Full day CPD (6 hours)
Friday 11 October, 09:30-16:30, High House
Production Park, Purfleet.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
SEND
DANCE & FILM PROJECT
For teachers:
• Increased skills and confidence in using the
foundations of dance and physical activity
to support social and emotional learning
and to build resilience.
• Teachers will be equipped with creative
“What a wonderful project and a fantastic opportunity for young
people to experience dance film making and develop their creative
talents whilst producing a strong health message.
tasks and tools to promote health and
wellbeing, promoting participation in, and
responding positively to, a broad range of
curriculum areas.
• Chance to explore film as a tool to
empower, share work with communities,
co-creating children’s ideas and amplifying
their voice.
• Introduction into Challenge 59s reflective
practices, that can be used as evaluative
tools in noting changes in attitudes and
motivations.
For Students:
• Positive changes in attitudes and
motivations towards health, wellbeing and
lifestyle.
• Insights into the creative industries and
skills required for future workforce –
creativity, collaboration, communication,
problem solving.
• Evidenced improvement in psychosocial
health, including confidence, resilience,
improved perceptions of self, expression,
communication, social skills.
• Students reported feeling calmer, happier,
more ‘successful’ and able to overcome
apprehensions.
• Increased physical and health literacy.
CROSS-CURRICULAR LINKS
Previously, schools have used Challenge 59 as
project-based learning across the school,
assisting in the development and enhancement
of students’ cognitive, social and linguistic
skills, including:
• ENGLISH: Examples include students
expressing their own ideas in storytelling,
poetry, press releases, planning, drafting
and editing storyboards, giving speeches
and presentations.
• SCIENCE: Including exploration of the effect
of exercise on the human body, healthy
diets, lifestyle factors, consequences of
imbalance.
• PE: By taking part in a broad range of
physical activity, living active and healthy
lives.
• PERFORMING ARTS AND MEDIA: Exploring
health through embodied learning/ creative
dance and choreography, understanding
the process of production and media
distribution.
• PSHE/ SMSC: Resources link to physical,
social and emotional health, identity and
self-expression, values, similarities and
differences, reflective practice, creativity
and imagination.
TEACHER COMMITMENT & TRAINING
Teachers do not need to have prior experience
of dance or film and would be asked to commit
to one full day of CPD
From here teachers will gain access to
Challenge 59 resources and can use the
programme across their school.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END?
Schools are encouraged to celebrate their work
and share in a format that works for them,
whether that be in writing, video diaries, live
dance, 59 second dance films, or even a
sharing at a central venue/ host school. This
would be up to the schools involved.
Challenge 59 team would ask that schools
collate any evaluations/ feedback and would
love to share films/ blog about schools taking
part.
OTHER RESOURCES & SUPPORT
FREE access to extensive online resources with
foreword by Sir Ken Robinson.
Schools may be interested in further work
with Challenge 59 – teacher mentoring, artist
residencies to support their work and offer
insights into the creative industries, or bespoke
projects.
COSTS
£60 per teacher
RECOMMENDED
This offer could complement the following:
• ROH Create & Dance: All offers
• Breakin’ Convention: Hip Hop Theatre
• Confidance: I Create
• Confidance: Superheroes
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