School Event - Black History Month

October 2009

To celebrate Black History Month in October 2009, children at school participated in a week of varied activities. The aim of the activities was to demonstrate that Chivenor School offers a balanced view of history, which challenges ignorance and stereotypical views.

Each year group researched and celebrated the positive achievements of a different Black iconic figure.

The Black iconic figures chosen were Jimmy Choo, Dr Charles Drew, Lewis Hamilton, Dr Mae Jemison, Barack Obama, Benjamin Zephaniah, Betty Coleman, Monty Panesar, Sol Campbell, Ade Adepitan, Trevor Nelson, Kelly Holmes and Dr Martin Luther King.

Display on Sol Campbell.		Display on Dr Charles Drew.
Display on Lewis Hamilton.		Display on Dr Mae Jemison.
Display on Martin Luther King.		Display on President Barack Obama.

Year 2 visited Castle Vale library and listened to stories set in different cultures. They wrote to Barack Obama and sent photos of their work.

Year 3 tasted Caribbean food. Their tasty menu included the following: Ackee (salt fish), Jerk chicken, Festival dumplings, Hake fish, Curried goat with rice, Chicken niblets, Hard dough bread, Jamaican cheese, Jamaican bun with cinnamon and raisins.

The food was prepared by the Caribbean Cuisine Restaurant

Tasting food from the Caribbean.

Mmmmm. This is really nice!

Year 3 children were also shown how to braid hair by a Chivenor parent. Some of the boys volunteered to have their hair braided as well as the girls.

Year 3 hair braiding.

Newly braided hair.

Year 4 took part in a Sister Tree Afro Caribbean dance, music and drama workshop.

Working together with Sister Tree.		Sister Tree dancing.
Sister Tree acting.		Sister Tree role playing.

Year 5 learned all about Bhangra music. Bhangra is a lively form of folk music and dance that originates from Punjab. People traditionally performed Bhangra when celebrating the harvest.

Children played Dhol Drums and the harmonium and a member of staff was dressed up in a traditional costume. The Dhol is a drum that dates back to the 15th century. The drum is played using two wooden sticks, usually made out of bamboo and cane wood.

Traditional Bhangra costume.		Learning to play the Dhol Drums.
More enthusiastic drummers.		Is this how I hit it?

Year 6 visited a Sikh Gurdwara on Soho Road in Birmingham.

On entering the temple, children and staff had to remove their shoes, cover their heads and wash their hands prior to entering the Darbar (the prayer room). We were met by a volunteer who explained what we would see and hear.

Prayers are recited in the temple 24 hours a day, by both men and women. The Gurdwara is open all the time so that people can pray.

Year 6 children all enjoyed finding out about the culture of Sikhs living in Birmingham.

These are some of the children's comments about their visit:

"Some of the Chivenor children bowed their heads as they entered the temple."
"Look the ladies sit on one side and the men on the other."
"Everyone who enters the Gurdwara kneels to show their respect."
"The girls put scarves on their heads."
"The boys wore Chivenor caps to cover their heads."
"We went right up to the top of the roof to look up into the dome. It was amazing."
"The dome is covered in thousands of pieces of mirrors and glass."
"The visit was really interesting because it was different to what I know."

The Gurdwara.		Inside, we wore caps to cover our heads.
People inside the Gurdwara.		Going up on the roof.
Admiring the view from the roof.		The glittering dome.

Parents were invited to join children and staff for a special Caribbean Calypso lunch on Wednesday 21st October. Children and adults really enjoyed the lunch. You can read the special menu to see what was served.

Parents and children shared a Caribbean menu.		Brightly coloured serving staff joined in the fun.
Parents and children eating together.		Everyone enjoyed the special lunch.