Prep and Pre-Prep celebrated Black History Month in various ways…..
In Reception the girls learnt about Raven Wilkinson, the first African-American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. This led to a fun craft activity making our own ballerinas. Having investigated Notting Hill Carnival and why it first started, the girls in Reception made vibrant headdresses, and wore them to dance to the music of a steel band. We also enjoyed listening to some Bob Marley music and having a sing along!
Both Reception and Year 1 thought about the importance of seeing yourself represented in films and how this has not always been the case. They discussed Halle Bailey and how she has been cast as Ariel in the live action Little Mermaid film. Each girl created a ‘Mermaid Scene’ using pastels.
Year 2 have enjoyed learning about Rosa Parks as part of Black History Month. We initially spent some time discussing the meaning of diversity and celebrating differences and then went on to learn about Rosa Parks and how her actions shaped American History. We listened to songs about her, read books and demonstrated what we had learnt by creating fact- files. The girls also made and coloured in buses and wrote about all the things that they could do to be like Rosa Parks, for example, always treat people how you wish to be treated and stand up for what you believe in.
Year 3 celebrated Black History Month by exploring the origins of the Notting Hill Carnival which included their own carnival parade where they modelled their intricately decorated and colourful masks. Girls made a storyboard to explain their understanding of segregation by focusing on the US bus boycott of 1955 and the change that took place afterwards. They also investigated the life of Mary Seacole and created a timeline to show her experiences.
Year 4 loved listening to music from black musicians every morning in form time to celebrate Black History Month. Their aim was to learn about black musicians hadn’t heard of and find out more about them. They listened to a range of music from Joseph Bologne, Florence Price and William Grant Still to Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone. Children also thought about Rosa Parks as an example segregation, wrote thank you letters to Marcus Rashford, as well researching and creating a fact-file, choosing an inspirational black figure from history or current times as their focus.
Year 5 investigated Phillis Wheatly who was the first African American to write a book – her book of poetry was published in 1773. They worked collaboratively to perform her poem A Hymn to the Evening. They also researched Matthew Henson who was one of the first explorers to set foot on the Northern most point of the North Pole. The children discovered the importance of his involvement in this epic journey which is often overlooked.
Year 6 investigated Harriet Tubman who was born into slavery, escaped and subsequently became a political activist helping enslaved people escape their incarceration and additionally explored the term ‘segregation’ using Rosa Parks as an example.
