Black History Month: early years curriculum launched in London borough

Hackney's Diverse Curriculum - the Black Contribution is a nine-week lesson plan for early years to KS4 students that aims to further the teaching of Black history in Hackney and the UK. 
 
The launch coincides with October’s Black History Month, an annual celebration that marks the achievements and contributions of Black people across the UK, and puts the spotlight on Black history, heritage, tradition and culture.

The teaching packs feature a series of modules which catalogue the contributions of Black people across the ages. Modules include When I Grow Up, the Windrush Generation, Activism, Untold Stories, Stories of our Lives and British Identity.

The aim of the early years curriculum is to help children to think about diversity in their community and encourage them to question representations and their own aspirations for the future.

A series of colourful We are All Different discussion cards, prompt children to talk about the colour of their hair and skin and discuss their likes and dislikes and similarities and differences. They also contain thought-provoking questions like, ‘How would you feel if someone didn’t want to play with you because they said they were different to you?’