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?’

Early years discussion cards from Hackney's Diverse Curriculum

Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, deputy mayor of Hackney, and cabinet member for education, young people and children’s social care, said, ‘This year has been significant as we reconcile with the importance of our Black history. As we witness the effect of the killing  of George Floyd, the mistreatment of our Windrush Generation and the unprecedented loss of life Covid-19 has had on Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, it’s important we provide context, encourage debate and enlighten our youth through proactive education. 

She added, ‘I’m very proud to share these valuable teaching resources with schools. It’s a promise we made when passing the motion, Hackney Black Lives Matter, and I’m looking forward to hearing from pupils and teachers on how they are used in classrooms. I want to thank the teachers and staff who enabled my aspiration to make this Black curriculum a reality as it is vital that Black History is taught as part of British History. 

‘Hackney's Diverse Curriculum - the Black Contribution, brings home the message that Black lives matter and that we all have a part to play in dismantling systemic racism and celebrating Black culture.’

Educators outside the borough are free to use the packs as they are or can adapt them to the needs of their classrooms and pupils. 

• To find out more visit hackneyservicesforschools.co.uk 

• Hackney's Diverse Curriculum - the Black Contribution will be sent via email to all Hackney Schools and will be available upon request by schools outside of the borough school.improvement@hackney.gov.uk. 

Resources

Childcare platform, Yoopies have released a Guide to Black History Month which aims to provide ways of thinking about and exploring the immense breadth of Black history in Britain and outside the UK. The guide contains advice, resources and tips for families to meaningfully explore and uplift Black History, heritage and culture.

Lily Pryer, author of the guide, told Nursery World, ‘Black History Month is too often reduced to a few key figures and events in history, often with a US perspective. This guide marks the achievements and contributions of Black people across the UK and beyond.

‘This October, if you haven’t already, invite children to actively see colour, to see culture, to see history, and to acknowledge that race has an impact on people’s life experiences and their world view. Black history is beautiful, far reaching and extremely interesting. After all, it is part of our everyday lives, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to and everyday items we could not imagine living without.’

In June, Yoopies published a Parent’s Guide to Black Lives Matter, a family-friendly guide to empower families to work towards racial equality and inspire healthy and open discussion on race. The Guide completely was published across hundreds of UK and international media, schools, charities and councils. The guide has now been updated with new materials and resources.

• Both guides can be found at www.yoopies.co.uk/c/blacklivesmatter.