The Terraforming Workshops
This course focuses on creative writing within the science-fiction and fantasy genres but the principles of world-building, plot creation, and character design are applicable to all branches of creative writing.
This course is intended for groups of between ten and fifteen students. It typically lasts a day, with four sessions of an hour and twenty minutes each. It can also be provided as four forty minute sessions, for younger groups. It is also possible to book these workshops for two or more groups running in tandem, scroll down to timetabling for further details.
Course overview
There are four workshops, listed below, which are designed to take a group of students together through the process of creating storytelling environments.
- Building a world
- Creating characters
- Magic and metaphysics
- Bringing stories to life
Through discussion, brainstorming, question and answer sessions and memory games, students are encourages to invent a rich and varied world and their own individual characters to populate it. Throughout the course a shared story is created, piece by piece, as the students put together what they've learned; co-operate to imagine a shared world society, and challenge each other to respond to their own inventions.
Each workshop is supported by eLearning materials on this website, scroll down for more details on how this works.
eLearning in the Terraforming area of Space Station RHI
These workshops are supported by an online course, currently in development on this website. Visit the terraforming area of Space Station RHI to see the current course materials. Space Station RHI is an interactive environment designed for children and teenagers to have fun exploring, and discover secrets and puzzles. The terraforming section has been designed as an eLearning environment.
Materials
Schools are requested to provide a set of sticky labels for each student to write their name on.
Junior workshops groups can be given pens and paper for artwork they may wish to produce as follow-up work.
Advanced groups may wish to bring pen and paper for taking notes, but this is not required.
Timetabling and age range
There are alternative options for different age groups. When booking workshops please select the correct age range appropriate for your students. The timings have been designed to reflect the amount of information that can be assimilated at different ages.
Advanced workshops: age 14+
Four sessions lasting one hour and twenty minutes each. This does not include two twenty minute breaks and an hour's lunch break. The whole course including breaks lasts for seven hours.
Advanced workshops are recommended for students who are studying creative writing and work well as part of a school book week or similar event.
Junior workshops: ages 10-13
Four sessions lasting forty minutes each. This does not include two twenty minute breaks and an hour's lunch break. The whole course including breaks lasts for four hours and twenty minutes.
The junior group can finish the day by creating their own original artwork of the characters they have created.
Junior workshops are particularly recommended for gifted and talented groups and students in the final year of junior school being introduced to a secondary school environment. The semi-informal environment of brainstorming sessions and co-operative question and answer sessions form an excellent introduction to independent learning.
Pricing structure
Prices may vary depending on the package requested.
Advanced workshops for older groups cost in the order of £300 for a day's course.
Junior workshops cost in the order of £250 for a day's course.
Transport and accommodation are charged separately at a mutually agreed rate.
Additional materials can be provided on request, please contact Rhiannon to discuss your school's particular needs.
Extra information and support
Teachers are welcome to observe the sessions but no additional classroom support is required.
Copies of Rhiannon's books can be ordered for sale or return from her publishers. View the contact page for more information about how to arrange this.
The eLearning course is recommended as an introduction to the kind of material that will be covered.
Print outs of the material covered can be provided on request for a small additional fee.