Workshops
Educational Resource Pack:
Young Lochinvar
A Curriculum for Excellence Drama-Based Learning Experience for P4–P6
The Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club now has a major new teaching resource to bring one of Scotland’s most iconic romantic ballads into classrooms across the country. The Young Lochinvar Workshop Resource Pack is now available for Primary School teachers. It offers a fully immersive, interdisciplinary experience based on Sir Walter Scott’s poem Lochinvar.
Designed to support Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) outcomes in Literacy, Expressive Arts, and Social Studies, this rich workshop engages pupils in role play, historical storytelling, creative writing, movement and music. Over the course of a classroom-friendly session, learners assume the roles of feuding families, plan a medieval wedding, perform traditional dances — and ultimately re-enact the thrilling escape of Lochinvar and his bride.
Key features of the Resource Pack:
➢ Warm-up and Ice-breakers
- Games using movement and stillness; children practise responding to sound cues (e.g. owl whistle).
➢ Border Reiving Simulation
- Pupils become night-time raiders navigating imaginary terrain. Introduces stealth, teamwork, and suspense.
➢ Swordplay & Stage Combat Basics
- Safe, choreographed swordplay in pairs; teaches trust and coordination.
➢ Introduction of Characters
- Pupils meet Lochinvar, Ellen, and Sir Timothy through Still Images and Teacher-in-Role scenes.
➢ Castle Life Preparation
- In-role planning of a grand wedding: cooking, decorating, rehearsing dances. Encourages creativity.
➢ Dances and Music
- The Farandole and Branle are taught and rehearsed as part of the wedding entertainment.
➢ The Wedding and Climax
- A mock wedding unfolds. At a signal, Lochinvar bursts in and abducts Ellen. All freeze. Pupils share feelings in role.
➢ Debrief and Poem Reading
- Only now is Scott’s poem read aloud in full. Pupils respond with insight and ownership.
It also includes:
- A full Workshop Plan with teacher guidance, prompts, and scripted scenes
- Curriculum mapping and clear learning objectives
- Differentiation tips to support a range of learners
- Printable scene cards, certificates, reflection sheets, and visual aids
- Background on Sir Walter Scott, the Border Reivers, and the poem.
Project lead and Club Treasurer Lee Simpson explains,
"This workshop invites young people not just to read the poem, but to live it -- and make it their own. It connects literature to lived experience, and Scott’s voice to the creative imagination of pupils today."
The pack was created in collaboration with drama educators and features illustrations, historical maps, and adaptable classroom materials. Teachers will also find a one-page quick guide, resource checklist, and glossary to support delivery.
Why Schools Should Use the Young Lochinvar Workshop:
The Young Lochinvar Workshop Resource Pack is more than a poetry lesson — it is a fully immersive classroom experience that transforms a classic Scottish text into a living, breathing drama.
Sir Walter Scott’s language can initially seem challenging for modern pupils. However, this workshop bridges that gap with carefully structured activities that allow learners to inhabit the story rather than simply read it. Through role play, movement, music, discussion and creative writing, pupils explore the poem’s themes of love, loyalty, rivalry and courage in ways that are active, accessible and memorable.
Teachers will appreciate that the pack is:
- Fully aligned with Curriculum for Excellence outcomes
- Clearly structured and easy to follow
- Supported by differentiation guidance
- Rich in cross-curricular opportunities (Literacy, Expressive Arts, Social Studies)
- Completely free to use
The resource includes teacher prompts, glossary support for challenging vocabulary, dance and music cues, printable scene cards, reflection sheets and even pupil certificates — meaning it can be delivered confidently by non-drama specialists.
What makes this workshop particularly effective is its balance between historical depth and creative freedom. Pupils learn about the Border Reivers, Renaissance dance, and Scott’s literary legacy — but they also debate feuding families, compare the poem to Romeo and Juliet, stage a wedding feast, and re-enact Lochinvar’s daring escape.
Schools who have piloted the workshop report high levels of engagement across a range of learners. The structured comprehension support allows teachers to differentiate effectively, while the dramatic elements provide an inclusive entry point for pupils who might not normally connect with poetry.
In short, the Young Lochinvar Workshop demonstrates that classic Scottish literature can still feel urgent, exciting and relevant. It gives pupils confidence with challenging language, encourages collaboration, and leaves them with a powerful sense that they have not simply studied a poem — they have performed it.
For schools looking to combine literacy, history and drama in a meaningful and memorable way, this workshop is an outstanding resource.
Download the Workshop:
Here is the workshop:
We also have a box of costumes to use which you are welcome to have on loan.
