Congratulations on arriving at the Bluenoses Teacher and Parent Resource page!
'Bluenoses is the perfect way to passionately engage young minds and get them creatively motivated through connecting words and image. These punchy pacey bursts of poetry and joyous animation – from a team with an unparalleled experience in hands-on, face-to-face engagement with young audiences across the globe – makes Bluenoses perfect for Literacy Learning in Primary School, particularly in the ‘early’ years of grades 1 through 3. Bluenoses also acts as a highly useful resource for older, reluctant readers or those who have English as a second language.
The versatility as a Learning Tool is huge. Imagine your students entering their classroom in the morning excited to hear the poem of the day and see the wonderful animation/illustration on the interactive whiteboard. Perhaps followed by a short challenge to create their own Bluenose character and their own Bluenose poem, whether independent, paired, group or whole class poem. All completed by the end of registration time or an After Lunch Settling activity to get their creative juices flowing! A perfect Literacy starter or Guided Independent Group activity. A Homework challenge would also be an ideal compliment for home online study, not to mention Cross Curricular learning through digital art and film.
Used as a plenary, Bluenoses embeds the beauty of rhyme, presentation and the spoken word to help move your children's learning forward. However you decide to use it, the Bluenoses can help your teaching and make parenting just that tiny bit more rewarding!’
Michelle Robins, Educator.
The versatility as a Learning Tool is huge. Imagine your students entering their classroom in the morning excited to hear the poem of the day and see the wonderful animation/illustration on the interactive whiteboard. Perhaps followed by a short challenge to create their own Bluenose character and their own Bluenose poem, whether independent, paired, group or whole class poem. All completed by the end of registration time or an After Lunch Settling activity to get their creative juices flowing! A perfect Literacy starter or Guided Independent Group activity. A Homework challenge would also be an ideal compliment for home online study, not to mention Cross Curricular learning through digital art and film.
Used as a plenary, Bluenoses embeds the beauty of rhyme, presentation and the spoken word to help move your children's learning forward. However you decide to use it, the Bluenoses can help your teaching and make parenting just that tiny bit more rewarding!’
Michelle Robins, Educator.
The Bluenose Team
Bluenoses came about after Martin Chatterton (aka 'Big Ed) and Paul Cookson (aka 'Cookie') had worked together on a large number of book and multimedia projects. In addition to being nationally and internationally recognised writers, illustrators and performers, both Martin and Paul are avid supporters of English Premier League football team, Everton FC, one of the two EPL teams based in Liverpool. As Everton play in blue, supporters of the club have come to be known as 'Bluenoses'. So, when they were looking for a name for an animated series showcasing their work, 'Bluenoses' was the perfect fit.
However, Paul and Martin's connections to Everton run a little deeper than simply being supporters. Paul is Everton's Poet in the Community and has worked on multiple Everton-based projects over the years. And Martin (wearing his screenwriting hat) is currently working with Everton chairman and media producer, Bill Kenwright on a six-part TV comedy drama. Sadly for Martin and Paul, the rest of the Bluenoses team are not Evertonians...but they still bring a wealth of both experience and expertise to the series, ensuring that not only is Bluenoses a lot of fun, it is backed by rock solid educational and professional knowledge.
You can find out more about the Bluenose team in the bio's below. After that, keep scrolling to find a number of fantastic teaching/learning resources. We'll add to this stockpile as we go along.
However, Paul and Martin's connections to Everton run a little deeper than simply being supporters. Paul is Everton's Poet in the Community and has worked on multiple Everton-based projects over the years. And Martin (wearing his screenwriting hat) is currently working with Everton chairman and media producer, Bill Kenwright on a six-part TV comedy drama. Sadly for Martin and Paul, the rest of the Bluenoses team are not Evertonians...but they still bring a wealth of both experience and expertise to the series, ensuring that not only is Bluenoses a lot of fun, it is backed by rock solid educational and professional knowledge.
You can find out more about the Bluenose team in the bio's below. After that, keep scrolling to find a number of fantastic teaching/learning resources. We'll add to this stockpile as we go along.
Martin Chatterton
Award-winning British/Australian illustrator, writer, producer and performer, Dr Martin Chatterton has been working in the upper reaches of the creative industries for over thirty years. He has written many children's books – primarily for Penguin Random House – for a variety of age ranges and has illustrated more than a hundred more, in the process working with publishing legends such as Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Roger McGough, Alexander McCall Smith, Anthony Horowitz and James Patterson (with whom Martin has co-written six books). In addition to his work for children, Martin writes crime fiction and for the screen as Ed Chatterton, with several scripts in active development with Bill Kenwright Film (UK) and Escapade Media (Australia). Martin is an Adjunct Senior lecturer at Southern Cross University, has worked extensively as a design and illustration lecturer and degree level external examiner. Martin successfully travels the world performing at schools, colleges, and festivals around the world, presenting live to approximately 25,000 students per year. He has appeared multiple times on TV and radio in the UK and Australia. His book, Winter of the White Bear, was shortlisted for The Prime Minister's Literary Awards in 2020 and the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards in 2021. The book is now being made into an animated feature film with Blue Zoo Animation after receiving funding from the British Film Institute's Young Auudiences Content Fund. Martin divides his working year between the UK and Australia and is married with two grown up children. He is a partner in Hungry Head Productions.
Find out more about Martin's work here: www.worldofchatterton.com And about his performance work here: nexusarts.com.au and here: authorsabroad.com |
Paul Cookson
Paul Cookson, is one of Britain's best-loved and most acclaimed poets, an in demand public speaker, performer and National Reading Hero. With over sixty titles to his name, Paul has sold well over a million books and his poems appear in over two hundred other books. Paul has worked as a full-time writer since 1989 and has visited thousands of schools and performed to hundreds of thousands of pupils and staff. Paul regularly appears on TV and radio and his work has inspired generations of schoolchildren. For Bluenoses, Paul writes and performs his poems in his alter-ego; Cookie. As part of the National Year of Reading Paul was nominated a British National Reading Hero. His work has taken him all over the world and his work has appeared on BBC's Match of The Day, Radio 5 Live, Radio 2, The World Service, CBBC, Sky Sports, Talksport Radio. His poem, Let No-one Steal Your Dreams has been adopted by numerous schools as their mission statement and has become a Year six leaver’s favourite. Paul is also a musician, performing alongside Les Glover and ex-Slade drummer, Don Powell as one third of The Occasional Flames.
Find out more: http://paulcooksonpoet.co.uk/ |
Annie chatterton
Producer of the Bluenoses, Annie Chatterton, is an alumnus of the iconic Liverpool Art School. Although born within twenty yards of Everton's ground, Goodison Park, Annie mysteriously went over to the dark side by supporting Liverpool FC. After a career in fashion and textiles which included running her own design studio, Big A Prints, Annie embarked on a second career of teaching in art schools and colleges throughout the UK. She made a sideways move into graphics in the early 90's when she began working alongside Martin as a graphic designer and illustrator. She and Martin co-illustrated dozens of children's books for publishers such as Egmont, Walker Books, Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press, Annie also co-illustrated multiple commercial illustration projects for clients as diverse as the Sydney Opera House, Honda and Radio Times. When not illustrating or designing, Annie is a key component of the Chatterton performance tours in Australia, New Zealand, China, India and the UK, designing and co-ordinating the audio-visual assets, liaising with venues and road managing the entire complex business of touring overseas.
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Norm Kunyo
UK-based Candian animator, Norm Kunyo, attended the Sheridan College Animation course and has since worked in Germany, Vancouver, and London. Norm specialises in 2D animation and design, primarily using Adobe Animate, Illustrator, and Photoshop (and an old fashioned pencil from time to time) for TV series, commercials, and online media. He has worked on multiple well-loved children's series and content providers such as Hey Duggee!, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
Find out more: https://mooseboy.co.uk/ |
Les Glover
Songwriter and musician Les Glover has been performing either as a solo artist or as part of a band both in the UK and across Europe and has several TV and radio appearances to his credit. He has played and sung with a variety of top acts including Henry Priestman (The Christians), Graham Gouldman (10cc), Gary Barlow (Take That), Pete Riley (edwin McCain/Amy Wadge), Lotte Mullan and Micaela Haslam (BBC singers/Synergy Vocals). His early band days of the late 70’s and early 80’s saw him as part of the Liverpool music scene playing at the now legendary Eric’s Club, supporting the likes of The Chameleons and A Flock Of Seagulls. He has recently been accompanying Henry Priestman on several BBC radio sessions and an hour long Bay TV special as part of the Scouse Pop series as well as many more on his own. Les is one third of the band, Don Powell's Ocassional Flames.
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michelle Robins
Londoner Michelle Robins has a lifetime of hands on experience as a teacher and as an educational teaching advisor/consultant. After a career in textiles following her first degree, and then more than twenty years on the chalkface in schools in the West Country (UK) Michelle now specialises in energising mid-career educators. She is also a professional artist who frequently exhibits near her home base in Cornwall.
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Richard Johnson |
DanieL Chatterton |
Rowan Chapman |
As the Executive Creative Director of advertising agencies across the world, including M&C Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather and McCanns, Richard has been building brands for over 32 years. During that time he has either written, produced storyboarded or directed over 200 TV commercials. He has won every major industry award there is and has been a jury member at Cannes Lions, D&AD and the New York Festivals. Like other advertising professionals before him such as Keith Chapman and Ivor Wood Richard has now moved over to producing high-quality children's IP and content with an emphasis on animation and projects that engage both heart and brain. Richard is Martin's founding partner in Hungry Head Productions.
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The third member of the Chatterton family involved in Bluenoses, Danny (tragically a devoted Liverpool FC fan) ensures our digital stuff works. With a double degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Danny has experience in digital marketing with boutique Sydney agency, Sparro working with clients such as Destination NSW and Vivid. Danny has also worked in the corporate graduate programs for Unilever and Qantas.
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Brisbane-based Australian actor, Rowan Chapman, is known for his work on Young Rock (2021), Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021) and Les Norton (2019). Rowan graduated from the University of Queensland with a bachelor's degree in Applied Science and also graduated the QUT Acting Program with a BA Fine Arts (Acting) in 2015. Rowan has worked with Hungry Head on several projects in development apart from Bluenoses.
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All the videos below can be used as a learning resource.
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Further resources:
FREE BOOK! That's right; here's a completely free book from Martin Chatterton's Waggledagger comedy series about William Shakespeare as a ten year old.
Each book in this series echoed the plot of one of the Bard's plays. This one, By The Picking Of My Nose, was the first in the series, and is a light-hearted look at the influences that might possibly have led to Shakespeare writing Macbeth.
Click here for the free COMPLETE pdf of the book.
And click here for a set of Teacher's Notes.
DADDY FELL INTO THE POND – ALFRED NOYES : A STARTING POINT FOR A POEM
Paul Cookson suggests how to start a poem. Click here for the pdf.
TEACHER TIPS AND HANDY HINTS
Paul Cookson has worked in schools for over twenty five years leading workshops and encouraging children ( and teachers ) to write their own poems.
Taken from Paul's book, Read, Write and Perform Poetry (Scholastic). Click here for the pdf.
Each book in this series echoed the plot of one of the Bard's plays. This one, By The Picking Of My Nose, was the first in the series, and is a light-hearted look at the influences that might possibly have led to Shakespeare writing Macbeth.
Click here for the free COMPLETE pdf of the book.
And click here for a set of Teacher's Notes.
DADDY FELL INTO THE POND – ALFRED NOYES : A STARTING POINT FOR A POEM
Paul Cookson suggests how to start a poem. Click here for the pdf.
TEACHER TIPS AND HANDY HINTS
Paul Cookson has worked in schools for over twenty five years leading workshops and encouraging children ( and teachers ) to write their own poems.
Taken from Paul's book, Read, Write and Perform Poetry (Scholastic). Click here for the pdf.
