Throughout the week, classes across the school have been celebrating Black History Month through a wide range of engaging and inclusive activities that highlighted the achievements, contributions and creativity of Black individuals throughout history and the present day.
To start our whole-school Enrichment Week celebrating Black History Month, we were delighted to welcome Heather from the Telford African and Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre into school.
Heather brought along a fantastic range of traditional African instruments and African clothing for the children to explore. The children thoroughly enjoyed learning about different aspects of African culture and had great fun dancing to traditional African music.
A huge thank you to Heather for such an engaging and enjoyable visit.
During the week pupils explored the work of a variety of influential Black artists, including Lubaina Himid, Alma Thomas, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Stephen Wiltshire, creating their own artwork inspired by different artistic styles, techniques and themes. Children experimented with bold colours, patterns, mosaics, painting and drawing from memory, producing some fantastic pieces of creative work.
Many classes learned about significant Black figures from history, including Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space, and Martin Luther King Jr. Through stories, role play, sensory activities and discussions, pupils explored their achievements and reflected on their own hopes and dreams for the future. Children also enjoyed space-themed learning experiences, creating astronaut helmets, exploring planets and making moon dough.
Literacy activities included listening to and discussing poetry by Benjamin Zephaniah, reading stories celebrating Black history and culture, and exploring books that introduced inspirational Black individuals from around the world. Our younger pupils enjoyed exploring the much-loved story of Handa's Surprise.
Music featured strongly throughout the week, with children listening and responding to reggae music and other works by Black musicians, joining in with percussion activities, singing, dancing and movement sessions.
In PE, pupils learned about famous Black sporting personalities and enjoyed recreating some of their most iconic sporting moments and achievements.
Children also took part in activities that celebrated diversity and representation, including exploring different skin tones, hair types and cultures through sensory play and discussion activities designed to promote understanding, respect and inclusion.
It has been a wonderful week of learning, creativity and celebration, giving pupils opportunities to develop their understanding of Black history, culture, achievements and contributions while engaging in meaningful, enjoyable and memorable experiences.
Well done everyone!
