Further info.

Resource Guide
Every school in Sandwell received an activity guide with CD-ROM to assist their teaching and learning of Black History Month subjects. Through working with the primary and secondary EMAG advisors we were able to ensure that activities and resources responded to different ranges of personal learning outcomes for pupils across both primary and secondary.

The guide was designed to engage children in activity throughout the academic year, cross curricular. It covers subjects including history, geography, maths, art and crafts as well as English and literature. Ways to adapt the activities to younger pupils were provided as well as worksheets for duplication both within the guide and on the CD-ROM. Archival images and newsreel footage of the arrival of the Empire Windrush were used as well as satellite imagery of hurricanes, their after affects plus census data. Multistory staff worked with DORCAS Housing Association to make a film about local migrants’ experiences of arriving in the UK over the last 50 years to include in the guide.

Storytelling Workshops and Performances
In order to bring to life the subjects and activities within the guide, 8 schools were invited to host local artists Sister Tree to perform their show ‘Mix and Flix’. The show brought together key events in Black History from the slave trade to the Empire Windrush, Caribbean life and some influential characters in Black History.

Following this whole school/year group performance, one class from each of the 8 schools participated in the ‘The Strongest Link’ workshop. The workshop was influenced by the famous quiz show and used as a fun way to evaluate how much the children had learned from the performance and provided opportunities to develop the group’s speaking and listening skills.

Sister Tree was established in 1997 as a Theatre Production Company specialising in vibrant, inspirational performances which combine dance, drama, music, performance, story-telling and poetry. Sister Tree’s performances and workshops are especially developed to encourage self-expression, confidence and creative-thinking.

Vegetable Boxes and Growing Kits
Further follow up support was provided to 12 interested schools through vegetable boxes and growing kits to bring to life the learning taking place from the activity guide. The vegetable boxes contained a range of fruit, vegetable and herbs used in cooking in the Caribbean and utilised in the recipes provided in the resource guide, including cho cho, sweet potato, yam, aubergines, okra, plantain and scotch bonnets; they were all labelled and information and facts about the items was provided.

The growing kits contained items such as thyme plants, pepper seeds, spring onions, pumpkins, labels, seed trays and pots as well as a handy box of compost. To ensure the seeds were planted at the right time, and to avoid harsh winter weather over the holidays, these packs were distributed to the schools in January ready for harvest in the autumn.

As the children and young people learned about the journey of the Empire Windrush to England they also learned about the lives and the places the migrants left behind to come here. By learning about the passengers’ journeys and life in the Caribbean, pupils were able to explore the history and identity of their family’s lives and those of their class mates who have come from different places in the UK and the world.

Links:
Visit the Sister Tree website www.sistertree.co.uk

Gallery

Video:
Click on the link below to view the video which is an account by members of the Charles Pearson Residents’ Association of their memories of arriving in Britain.

http://www.vimeo.com/1991550

Downloads:
Below are some downloadable worksheet samples from the CD-ROM which was part of the resource guide.

Caribbean Map Worksheet (PDF) 400KB
Caribbean Flags Worksheet (PDF) 1.5MB
Nutrition Worksheet (PDF) 872KB
Sugar Food Facts (PDF) 972KB
World Map (PDF) 564KB

Feedback

This is feedback that Multistory received about the Caribbean Roots in English Soil Project.

“I thought the whole thing was a very balanced portrayal of the Windrush. A positive production which also got the message across of the difficulties and segregation people dealt with.”
Batman’s Hill PRU

“Kids and staff loved all of it. Many children said it was the best theatre group they had seen. A big hit! Would book again.”
St. Mary Magdalene C.E Primary