Press Releases

National Slate Museum 'raps' to a million words.

Do you think about how many words you read or see every day?  At the National Slate Museum, hundreds of words have been transformed  into  rap music recently as two local schools took part in the national scheme to “Read a million words in Wales” (RMWW)  an exciting, fun campaign that sets a goal for primary school children, classes and schools to read a million words in a year  through innovative interactive projects.

 

The children from Ysgol Maesincla, Caernarfon and Ysgol Bro Plennydd, Y Ffor took part in rap workshops with musician Martin Dawes and the songs can now be heard on the museum’s website.

 

RMWW co-ordinator Eirian Lewis explained further…

“This project at the museum has been a fantastic opportunity for children to come out of the classroom and realise that they can count words wherever they may be. Angela and Martin’s workshops have provided diverse, dynamic and best of all fun ways for the children to increase their word count.

 

“RMWW is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government – as part of its ‘Words Talk – Numbers Count’ strategy and aims to promote positive attitudes towards reading and encourage success for everyone - especially reluctant and failing readers. RMWW is not solely about books. Children are asked to notice and count all the words that surround them every day - in school, at home and everywhere else. All words and all types of text count – everything from signs and packet labels to comics and internet sites. It is not just about English or Welsh words – it can include other mother-tongue words. Listening to words  – for example bedtime stories or storytelling– can also be counted.’

 

As well as  the rap music the children also took past in storytelling and craft sessions

with local writer Angela Roberts, about her story of the AFANC – a mythological  dragon/beast.

 

 Elen Roberts, Education officer at the museum explained further:

“The wonderful thing about a project like this is see children having fun with words

 in a way they hadn’t previously thought possible, getting to grips with the sounds and rhythms of language becoming exciting, rather than a classroom chore.”

 

John Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Skills said: 

The Read a Million Words in Wales campaign has already been a great success and there are a number of imaginative and exciting ways to get involved.  This campaign encourages pupils across Wales to not only start reading but encourages them to keep reading – which is essential if we are to develop this most essential of skills.  I urge you all to take up the challenge and read a million words.”

 

The rap songs can now be heard on the museum’s website on www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/llanberis/rap/

 

For more  information about the project generally  visit  www.readamillionwordsinwales.org.uk

 

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales.  These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion

Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum,

Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum,

Swansea.

You’ve just read 514 words!

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For further information, please contact Julie Williams, Marketing Officer  tel: 01286 873707 julie.williams@museumwales.ac.uk or Eirian Lewis, RMMW co-ordinator  on  EirianLewis@gwynedd.gov.uk