Children’s Book Network (CBN) has been working on a project with UCT Department of Archaeology, Clanwilliam Living Landscape Project and others to create music using rock gongs (ringing rocks) from the Karoo. We have brought some of the rocks to Clanwilliam and some smaller gongs were taken to the winter workshop given for children from […]
Rock Gong Music Project – a call for a commissioned musical work Read More »
If there could be a measurement of success after workshops, we feel it would be measured by the amount of laughing (as opposed to giggling) that goes on. Especially on long workshops – like the four-day one we had in July 2014 in the Cederberg – the children relax into a state of mind where
CBN and children – and having fun Read More »
We work with children of ten, eleven and twelve (for the most part) and most of them speak English as their second, or even third, language. To compound the problem any group – whether in Red Hill or Clanwilliam – will consist of children who speak either Afrikaans or Xhosa as their home language, so
CBN and language issues Read More »
For whatever reason it seemed difficult to engage the children in writing their own story/poem/ideas. They always responded more to the activity of writing a collective song…usually a daunting task for any group of musos! Anele and I evolved a technique where each child picked one word. These words were pooled onto one card from
Writing songs with children in Cederberg and Red Hill Read More »
Sometimes, in all the pictures of children at workshops, the facilitators, friends and helpers who make it all possible are left out. So here is a thank you to them. Champions: Firstly Richard Parsons, who continues to help and support us and who is always interested to hear what the children are up to. Two
Who are we? The CBN team revealed: The Champions and the friends Read More »
This lovely short clip from a film directed by Guy Spiller follows the journey of a sixteen year old who discovers the richness of experience around him in the Karoo, ranging from the South African Large Telescope (SALT) to the paintings on the rocks made by earlier people. It links the sciences of archaeology and
My room at the centre of the universe Read More »
Rosemary has been with CBN almost since the beginning, doing design work, volunteering at workshops – and gradually being drawn in to more and more activities until she is now an essential part of every workshop and has taken on the critical position of Administration Manager as well as working on the website. Rosemary was
Who are we? The CBN team revealed: Rosemary Bangham Read More »
The shadow puppet activity (initially suggested by Sandy Rudd, theatre director in Namibia) has proved wildly successful. For this activity the children make their own puppets using templates created by Emily Hallinan (CBN friend and archaeologist), sometimes even editing the templates with their own creativity. They then masterfully enact stories using the puppets, stories often
Shadow Puppets for Story Telling Read More »
Clanwilliam Living Landscape Project (CLLP) had been a wonderful ally and partner for CBN in a series of workshops stretching back nearly two years now. The project has the structure we need – a hall, two classrooms and accommodation for facilitators visiting from Cape Town and elsewhere. It also has a very competent catering and
Support team for Clanwilliam workshop Read More »
CBN has a strong team of regular facilitators – Lesley and croc E, Anele and Rosemary are almost always there, but we co-opt (sometimes to their considerable surprise) caring and interested people from the communities we work with and from other disciplines. At the workshop we hosted for children from Red Hill in Simon’s Town
Red Hill Support team: Winter workshops Read More »
We were very lucky, and privileged, to host the riel dancers from Elizabethfontein Primary School at our Clanwilliam winter workshop. They did a lovely show for us, dancing stories that were well known to the audience – that enjoyed them hugely. We hope to continue this relationship with such an outstanding school, over the Pakhuis
Betjiesfontein Dancers at CBN Workshop Read More »
The full reports on these workshops are available under WORKSHOP/Reports on this website, or click through on the addresses below. We do workshops throughout the school year, but the most successful method is to take two, three, or even four days. This allows us to really get to grips with the topics and activities, to
Workshop reports for winter workshops in Clanwilliam and for red Hill children Read More »
On 16 and 17 July children from Red Hill informal settlement attended a CBN workshop at Simon’s Town Library. Seventeen children attended on both days, with some changes in the group after day one, and they travelled on two minibus taxis to the venue. Summary There was an exciting programme involving making and performing a
Red Hill Winter Workshop 2014 Read More »
Monday 7th July was an important date for Children’s Book Network at the Centre for the Book in Queen Victoria Street. It was the launch of a new phase of our work – and all three founders were there. Lesley Beake gave an introduction to CBN and spoke about the importance of books for children,
A really grown-up CBN Read More »
Venue: Simon’s Town Library (on main road, opposite police station and after the shops stop. It is up a steep driveway on your right and there is plenty of parking at the top) Theme: Books and music. Early people, San, rock gongs There is a report about the Clanwilliam workshop on this theme for those
Workshop plan for Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th July 9.30 to 3.30 Read More »
Listening Beautifully With Gçina Mhlophe, Sindiwe Magona, Anele Mhlahlo and croc E moses. This event will not only be a magical evening of stories and music but also acts as a fundraiser for Children’s Book Network. Tickets are R150 and include wine and nibbles. We would be very grateful if you could also share this
Rock Gong Workshop in Clanwilliam Twenty-five children from three schools in the Cederberg took part in a four-day workshop at Clanwilliam Living Landscape Project (CLLP) between 30 June and 3 July. It was incredible! This workshop has been a long time in the dreaming. We wanted to try some new ideas, inspire the children with
Rock Gong Workshop in Clanwilliam Read More »
At the four-day workshop held in Clanwilliam between 30th June and 3 July, 25 children had the chance to use the CBN iPads for the first time. Two of them are on loan from Digicape in Cape Town, two were lent by workshop facilitators and one is CBN’s very own iPad! It was donated by
Clanwilliam children meet the iPads Read More »
Our first day at Clanwilliam. We had a beautiful successful day with the children. They were so amazingly easy to work with, so far we have worked with iPads (with Phumla, Mary and Hugh in charge), made shadow puppets with Rosemary and Emily shared stories with Lesley – and Anele and Croc E made music
Clanwilliam workshop – Day One Read More »
SONG OF BE by Lesley Beake (Maskew Miller Longman) The moving story of Be, a modern Bushman/San girl. Its opening sentence: “I have just killed myself” catches both the drama of the Bushman girl’s situation and the threat of extinction to her people – or at the very least, of their traditional way of life.
Six of the Best … Young Adult novels Read More »
