We’ve Got Issues!
A day of monster-themed creative writing, classic literature and Shakespearean poetry at Hymers College - where Year 5 pupils discover what language can really do, and leave with their own published sonnet.
DATES: Wednesday 17 June, Thursday 18 June, Friday 19 June 2026
TIME: 9:40am – 2:40pm
WHO: Teams of 4, Year 5 pupils
COST: Free - with lunch provided for all pupils and staff
VENUE: Hymers College
What makes the day different?
We've Got Issues! takes Year 5 pupils deep into the world of classic monster literature (Dracula, Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, The Day of the Triffids) and challenges them to do something genuinely ambitious: write, in the Shakespearean sonnet form, about the monster they've been studying.
Working in teams of four, pupils decode plots, wrestle with complex vocabulary, map their monster's inner world, crack the rules of the sonnet, and then produce a beautifully decorated final version. Every school that attends receives a printed booklet of the work created on the day, sent directly to you after the event. A real, lasting piece of work your pupils made.
All sessions are led by Hymers College staff. Your accompanying adult is welcome to use the Wi-Fi and get on with their own work, your pupils are in safe, expert hands all day.
The four activities
Activity 1 - 10:00am
ROGUE PLOTS
Each team is assigned a classic monster novel. They start by piecing together a set of jumbled plot events into the correct order, and then race against teammates to complete a crossword of the novel's most challenging vocabulary, dictionaries at the ready.
Activity 2 - 11:00am
MONSTER MAPS
Pupils read an extract from their novel and fill the outline of their monster's head with vocabulary, imagery and description, building a rich picture of the character and how the author makes the reader feel. The most ambitious pupils can go further: creating their very own monster from scratch.
Activity 3 - 12:30pm
SCHEMING SONNETS
Using a real Shakespearean sonnet as their guide, pupils decode the rules: iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme, stanza structure. Then, armed with their monster maps, they plan and draft their own sonnet, bringing their monster to life in fourteen lines of verse.
Activity 4 - 1:30pm
WE’LL HAVE ISSUES
The final session is where it all comes together. Pupils produce a neat, decorated version of their sonnet to go into their school's very own Issues booklet, a publication that will be printed and posted to your school after the event. A piece of work to be genuinely proud of.
The day at a glance
9:40am - Arrival and welcome
9:50am - Introduction to the day
10:00am - Activity 1: Rogue Plots
11:00am - Activity 2: Monster Maps
12:00pm - Lunch (provided for all pupils and accompanying staff)
12:30pm - Activity 3: Scheming Sonnets
1:30pm - Activity 4: We’ll Have Issues
2:30pm - Summary and presentation
2:40pm - Depart
Ready to bring your Year 5s?
Places are limited and fill up quickly. Book now to secure your team's spot - and consider pairing it with We've Got Problems! on the same date.
