As part of our Black History Month celebrations, the girls have been immersed in a range of captivating lessons across the school. Some of the highlights include:
The Upper and Lower School girls took part in the Freshwater Theatre Company workshops. The girls explored modern pioneers of Black history, including Sislin Fay Allen and Stormzy, shining a spotlight on influential Black figures from both the past and present. Their remarkable stories left a lasting impact. They also delved into a traditional Caribbean tale, bringing the learning to life through Drama, Music, and Dance, making it a truly enriching experience.
After reading Coco Loves Her Curly Hair by Colleen Dixon, the Reception girls were inspired to play hairdressers and copy some of the fantastic hairstyles Coco requests in the story. In Pre-Reception, the children have been reading Handa’s Surprise.
Year 1 learned about farming scientist George Washington Carver and created carrot top gardens in Science, while in Art, they explored the work of Tanzanian artist Edward Tingatinga. The girls made fabulous cat and dog paintings inspired by his vibrant style. The girls collaboratively produced the ‘colourful woman’ artwork and designed beautiful African-inspired necklaces.
Year 2 celebrated the extraordinary lives of the bold Black women featured in the Little Leaders book. They also completed a Rosa Parks comprehension and worked on Anansi stories, creating detailed character descriptions to bring the tales to life.
In Drama, all the year groups explored an African folk tale. They energetically re-enacted The Hyena and the Ostrich, bringing the story to life creatively and enthusiastically.
In Art, Year 3 have been learning about Picasso and how African Art influenced his work. They produced some beautiful African-inspired masks.
Year 5 explored the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who had a special relationship with Queen Victoria. They read an article about her portrait being displayed at Osborne House and completed a VIPERS comprehension based on the article as part of their work on the Victorians, linked to Street Child.
Year 6 studied Walter Tull, the first Black officer in the British army, linking their learning to WW1 in History and English, where they are studying Goodnight Mister Tom. They discovered how Tull faced discrimination due to his heritage and was never awarded the Military Cross. The girls believe his contributions deserve recognition, and they are writing persuasive letters to the Ministry of Defence advocating for this award. We look forward to receiving a reply!
Year 6 have also been writing powerful protest songs, drawing inspiration from tracks like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s “Freedom.” They worked on a rap bridge, exploring rhyming couplets and call and response, with themes such as ‘girl power,’ ‘colours don’t matter,’ and ‘kindness and courage.’
It’s been a wonderfully enriched month of learning filled with plenty of creativity and reflection.
