Year 5 - Black History Month
To celebrate Black History Month, we explored the life of Claudia Jones. She was a Trinidadian-born journalist who fought for racial equality in both the United States and the United Kingdom. As she is celebrated as the mother of the Notting Hill carnival in London, we decorated our own carnival masks with colours and symbols that reflect our personality and interests.
Year 6 - Black History Month
As part of our Black History Month celebrations, the children explored the inspirational life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his powerful dream of a world filled with equality, kindness and fairness. Inspired by his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, the children created stunning pieces of artwork representing their own hopes and dreams for our world. Their work beautifully expressed their aspirations for a brighter future, where everyone is treated with respect, valued for who they are and given the opportunity to thrive. We are incredibly proud of the creativity, thoughtfulness and powerful messages behind their artwork!
Speak up for Black History in Year 4
This week in Year 4 we have been focusing on creating posters that encourage people to stand up for their rights and show kindness. We looked at a video about Rosa Parks and then thought of ways in which we could share her story through different messages.
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Year 2- Black History Month
Today, we explored the life and achievements of Lewis Latimer as part of our Black History Month learning. We discovered how Lewis Latimer helped to improve the light bulb by developing a more effective and long-lasting carbon filament, making electric lighting more practical and accessible to more people. We then put on our thinking caps and explored other exciting innovations that have improved everyday objects. We discussed how the traditional toothbrush has evolved into an electric toothbrush, how glasses can become sunglasses in bright sunlight, how umbrellas can pop open at the touch of a button and how special goggles allow us to experience television in 3D! We also discussed how we can all be innovators, just like Lewis Latimer by using our creativity and problem-solving skills to come up with ideas that can lead to exciting innovations! To finish our session, we watched some Black History Heroes clips to learn about other inspirational Black figures, including Rosa Parks. We discovered more about her life, achievements and the lasting impact she has had on the world.
Worship: Black History Month
Our Black History Month worship began by inviting the children to imagine a huge book containing the history of the entire world. We discussed how some pages would be familiar to us, while others would tell stories we had never heard before. The children were then challenged to identify significant historical figures, including Samuel Pepys, Neil Armstrong and Adolf Hitler. We then introduced a selection of influential Black individuals. The children recognised Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, but were less familiar with the other figures. This provided an opportunity to reflect on whose stories we learn about and why it is important to celebrate and recognise the contributions of Black people throughout history. We watched a Newsround video explaining what Black History Month is, why it is celebrated and the importance of learning about Black history. Following this, we explained that each class would focus on a different significant individual each week, giving the children opportunities to discover new stories, learn about inspiring people and understand the impact they have had on the world. We concluded our worship by singing Make a Difference, encouraging the children to consider how they can make a positive difference in their own lives and communities. The worship provided an opportunity to celebrate Black history, broaden the children’s understanding of significant historical figures and encourage them to think about the importance of representation, equality and making a difference. A huge thank you to Miss Woods, our History subject leader for planning and leading the worship and follow up work.
Year 1 Black History Month: Mary Seacole
Year 1 focused on Mary Seacole for their influential person in Black History Month. They discovered that Mary Seacole was born in Jamaica and was taught by her mother in nursing. She wanted to help wounded soldiers in the war and set up a boarding house for them. Year 1 were inspired by her kindness, courage and bravery. They reflected on how they can help someone and be more like Mary Seacole.
Year 6 - Remembrance
Today, Year 6 visited Darwen Cemetery to care for the war graves that our school has proudly adopted. The children showed great respect as they cleaned and looked after the graves, taking time to reflect on the lives and sacrifices of those who served during times of conflict. The children then visited the Remembrance Memorial, where they reflected on the importance of remembrance and why it is so important that we continue to honour those who gave so much for others. This visit formed an important part of our preparation for our upcoming Remembrance Service and helped the children to understand the significance of the occasion in a meaningful and personal way, as well as deepening their knowledge of World War II.
Whole School Worship with Rev Matt
During our whole-school worship, Rev Matt explored the theme of ‘Life as a Journey’, sharing the story of Moses and how he led the Hebrew people through challenges and uncertainty towards freedom. The children reflected on how journeys can be filled with obstacles, difficult decisions and moments that test our faith, but also how perseverance, courage and trust can help us overcome these challenges. This encouraged the children to think about their own journeys through life and the importance of supporting one another along the way.
The Great Big Assembly for Black History Month in Year 4
Today we took part in a special Worship to celebrate Black History Month. We watched a video that highlighted lots of wonderful people who have made Britain be Britain because of Black History. The theme for this special month is ‘ Honouring Our Communities’ so the presenters gave special shout outs to their dentist and local priest. Everyday Heroes: The theme shifts focus from solely celebrating globally or nationally famous figures to recognising everyday individuals whose unseen work sustains local communities. We looked at the contributions of local volunteers, teachers, NHS nurses, carers, youth workers, and community leaders. Next we took part in a quiz which Year 4 absolutely smashed! It was a great, interactive Worship which the children absolutely loved.
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Whole School Worship
Today in worship, the children were treated to an exciting online worship from Picture News exploring the importance of inclusive sport and how we can break down barriers that may prevent people from taking part. We learnt about the struggles that Stef Reid, a Paralympic athlete, faced when she lost her foot in an accident. She was determined to run again though after being a keen sportswoman before her accident and she went on to win many medals in a number of Paralympic Games events including running and long jump. She then retired from athletics but then took up figure skating and competed in Dancing on Ice. What an inspiration! The children discussed how everyone has different strengths, abilities and experiences, and explored the idea that there is always more than one way to achieve something and to never give up, just like Stef. It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to think about inclusion, resilience and the importance of supporting and encouraging others.
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Year 5 - RotaKids Elections
In preparation for the visit of Darwen Rotary Club, Year 5 carried out elections for the key roles of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. The children showed confidence, insight and passion as they tried to convince the class they were the best person for the role. The whole class will be responsible for 3 charity projects this year but it will be the role of the 4 elected representatives to take the best ideas, convince Mrs Ham of their viability and then promote them across the whole school. The results will be announced soon!
Year 6 - Expressing Myself
Today, Year 6 began exploring their creative side using graffiti as a stimulus for their artwork. The children experimented with colour, pattern and design, using masking tape to create a four-letter word or slogan across their page. They then used vibrant oil pastels to build a bold and colourful scene around their design. Once the artwork was complete, the children carefully removed the masking tape to reveal their hidden slogan, creating a striking contrast between the vibrant background and the clear lettering. The finished pieces showcased the children’s creativity, imagination and ability to use different artistic techniques to create an impactful piece of art.
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