Rainbow flags

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-49436339

When Alex hung a rainbow flag out of his window to celebrate Pride month, two men shouted and threatened him. The rainbow flag is a well known symbol for the LGBT community. Alex lives in Manchester where every August bank holiday a huge celebration of LGBT Pride is held. Prides are held in cities around the UK to show that they are inclusive places where everyone is welcome.

Alex's neighbours heard about the incident and decided to do something to show Alex belonged in their street. One neighbour bought 30 rainbow flags and all the neighbours hung the flags out of their windows. A neighbour said he was horrified about what happened to Alex; "We can't let this happen, especially in this community. The whole street is going to be decked with flags in support of Alex."

A neighbour said homophobia , "Just isn't acceptable in 2019."
Another neighbour said, "The way the neighbourhood has come together is fantastic. Everybody's got a smile on their face."


Show the top picture
What do you see in the picture?
where are they?
why do you think the people are together? How do you think the are related?
How are they feeling?

explain the story then show the second picture

- what is homophobia?
- why do some people behave in a homophobic way? (because they don't understand about no outsiders, they don't understand that it's ok to be different, some people are afraid of  difference.)
- how do you think Alex felt when the two men threatened him?
- what did his neighbours do?
- why did the neighbours hang rainbow flags out of their windows?
- how do you think that action made Alex feel?
- what does this story show about that street in Manchester and the people who live there?
- could this story happen in other cities?
- Alex said when he drove down the street and saw the flags he felt very emotional- why?
- "everybody's got a smile on their face" - why?
- what can we learn from the neighbours in this story?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

First day at school

https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Photo-of-boy-holds-hands-calms-classmate-with-autism-on-first-day-of-school-558029931.html?fbclid=IwAR1DW7RhppFjMaBw3NIe6eoNOmiDhNura2WR9hvOTsCaMwoWwLhYgpb9QTg

This photo shows 8 year old Christian holding hands with Connor, a boy in his class. The picture was taken on the first day of school; Christian saw Connor curled up and crying in a corner so he walked over and took Connor's hand to walk him in to school.

The photo quickly went viral and Connors Mum thanked Christian, explaining her son was autistic. Mum said, "I worry every day that he he going to get bulled for being different and your son just absolutely warmed my heart. If there were more children like him I wouldn't worry about such things."

what do you see in the picture?
where is it taken?
what is happening?

explain the story

- what is autism? (I asked a child with autism how to describe what autism means. Oliver told me, "autism is your brain wired differently so you see the world in a different way. It' just a different view of the world." Oliver says some things are harder for him but but also he better at some things than other children.)
- why do you think Connor was crying?
- when Christian saw Connor crying, what choices did he have?
- why do you think Christian took Connor's hand?
- We don't know if Christian said anything, what might he have said?
- how do you think Connor felt when Christian took his hand?
- why does Mum worry about Connor being different?
- what do we say about being different in our school?
- what can we learn from Christian?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Back to school shirt

https://www.upworthy.com/6-year-old-designed-a-custom-t-shirt-for-his-first-day-of-school?fbclid=IwAR0gBuoL47JzCl-j_zRKiWR_QegY_U7HYPDAbpvWUqlDn-O3C1pggFcj5DQ

Blake Rajhan is a 6 year old boy living in Georgia  USA and has designed a shirt to wear on his first day back at school. Mum told Blake he could wear whatever design he wanted; a superhero; football team; a cool dragon; Blake said he wanted to wear a shirt with the message, "I will be your friend".

Blake said he wanted to wear the shirt, "For all the kids who need a friend to know that I am here for them."

News of the shirt quickly spread and people started wearing shirts with the message #Blakesfriends.

When Blake was told about the other shirts, he said, "Oh good, now more and more people are going to have more and more friends." 

What do you see in the picture?
why do you think the child is wearing this shirt?
when would be a good time to wear the shirt?

explain the story

- what is the first day back at school like?
- what different feelings do children have when they start school?
- why do you think Blake chose to wear this shirt?
- why doesn't Blake;s shirt say, "I will be your friend if you are black" or "I will be your friend if you are white" or "I will be your friend if you are Christian"?
- does Blake care about the race or religion of his friends? Do you think Blake cares if his friends have disabilities, different genders or different families?
- what kind of person do you think Blake is?
- do you think Blake will have lots of friends? Why?
- why are people wearing shirts with the message #blakesfriends
- What can we learn from Blake?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Different families

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brides-dad-stops-wedding-so-stepdad-can-walk-down-the-aisle-too_n_560ac699e4b0768126ff4f2b

As Todd Bachman walked his daughter Brittany down the aisle at the start of her wedding, he stopped the procession. He ran to the front row and grabbed the hand of Brittany's Step-Dad, taking him to walk their daughter down the aisle together. 

Later in an interview the Step-Dad said, "He came and grabbed my hand and said, 'You worked as hard as I have. You'll help us walk our daughter down the aisle'.... I got weak in my knees and lost it. Nothing better in my life, the most impactful moment in my life."

The two Dads admitted they had not always got along, but Todd said, "For me to thank him for all the years of helping raise our daughter wouldn't be enough. There is no better way to thank somebody than to assist me walking her down the aisle."

The photos have gone viral.

What do you see in the picture

Where are they?

what do you think is happening?

- what is a wedding for?

- what is "walking down the aisle"? traditionally who does that bit?

- why has Brittany got two Dads?

- Why do you think Brittany's Step-Dad wasn't asked to walk her down the aisle?

- how do you think he felt as he watched Todd walk Brittany down the aisle?

- Why did Todd stop the procession?

- Look at the face of the guest next to the Step-Dad as Todd grabs his hand, what is she thinking?

- Look at Todd's face; what is he thinking?

- How is Step-dad feeling?

- How do you think Brittany felt when she saw both her Dad's walking down the aisle together?

- why is this about different families?

- why have the photos gone viral? What does this show us about how people across the world see families?

- what can we learn from  Todd?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radial ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

lorry driver

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-48588841/the-lorry-driver-in-birmingham-whose-kindness-went-viral?fbclid=IwAR3sToVlJBZHva9F5Pn4NjSxQjAcklwkpI8z9mDZ3jWRWrFujnicbsMq7Rs

Manilo Wilson is a lorry driver from Birmingham. While working last week he noticed an elderly woman having trouble crossing a busy road. Manilo stopped his cement mixer and got out, to help the stranger cross the road.

The driver behind Manilo's lorry recorded the incident and up;loaded it to social media and it had gone viral.

Manilo says, it's in his nature to help people.

What do you see in the picture?
What do you think is happening?

explain the story

- why was the elderly woman having trouble crossing the road?
- why weren't people stopping for her?
- why do you think Manilo stopped?
- why did other cars wait behind Manilo?
- How do you think the drivers behind the lorry felt when it stopped?
- How do you think the drivers felt when they realised why the lorry had stopped?
- how are Manilo and the elderly woman different?
- why do you think the film went viral?
- what does this show about people living in the UK today?
- what does community cohesion mean?
- why is this story an example of community cohesion?
- what can we learn from Manilo?
- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Rainbow turban

https://www.upworthy.com/barack-obama-celebrates-pride-month-by-tweeting-an-amazing-photo-of-a-sikh-man-in-a-rainbow-turban?c=aah&fbclid=IwAR2OMOjIIhwqELStTIwRajO_mWx0E4ukLxOUCkI9z_EYD5cCEX6ENGSl_2U

Jiwandeep Kohli lives in America where June is National Gay Pride month. Jiwandeep posted a photo of the turban he wears to celebrate pride and tweeted, "I'm proud to be a bisexual, bearded baking brain scientist. I feel fortunate to be able to express all these aspects of my identity and will continue to work towards ensuring the sane freedom for others #pridemonth #prideturban #loveislove"

The post quickly went viral and former US President Barak Obama tweeted; "You've got a lot to be proud of, Jiwandeep. Thanks for everything you do to make this country a little more equal. Turban looks great, by the way. Happy Pride everybody!"

In the Sikh religion a turban represents the idea that all Sikhs are equal in the eyes of God. Jiwandeep says a turban is, "a sign to the world that you're a person the world can turn to for help."

Kholi has made his turban by weaving rainbow colours in to one of his black turbans.

What do you see in the picture?
where do you think it was taken?
what do the rainbow colours symbolise?

explain the picture

- why is Jiwandeep wearing rainbow colours?
- what does Love is Love mean?
- Jiwandeep says he is "a bisexual, bearded, baking, brain scientist" and that he feels, "fortunate to be able to express all aspects of my identity," what does he mean? What is identity? Why doesn't Jiwandeep just choose one identity to be proud of; why doesn't he just say he is "Sikh"?
- do we all have different aspects of identity?
- why does Barak Obama thank Jiwandeep for, "everything you do to make this country a little more equal"?
- why are we unequal sometimes?
- why do you think Jiwandeep wants people to know he is celebrating Pride? Some people might say he shouldn't wear the rainbow turban; why do you think he wants to wear it?
- this photo went viral; what does this show us about many people around the world and their attitude towards LGBT people?
- what can we learn from Jiwandeep?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

Germany wears the Kippah

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/31/germans-urged-wear-kippah-protest-antisemitism?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3G1kxnlZ1RymbYgVJUgn0MWSGjggmz6KMotfTHecEF0Esr8vv8sX7TTBs#Echobox=1559298123

In Germany 2019 there has been a rise in attacks on Jewish people. Last week a member of the government in Germany suggested Jewish people should not wear the Kippah so that they would not be recognised as Jewish and increase the possibility of being attacked. The Kippah is a small cap worn by Jewish men.

Following the comments there has been outcry across Germany. People are saying the answer is not to stop wearing the Kippah; the answer is to teach people about difference and diversity and to stop the attacks. Some MPs told Jews to ignore the warning and to carry on wearing the Kippah. In a visit to Germany, the US secretary of state said, "None of us should shrink in the face of prejudice."

A day of protest has been organised for Saturday where all people of different faith are encouraged to wear a Kippah. One newspaper has printed Kippahs for its readers to cut out and wear for the day. The demonstration is called "Deutschland tragt kippa" - Germany wears the kippa.

What do you see in the picture
Which religion is being practised?
Why is everyone wearing a cap? What is it called?

Explain the story

- Why are some people attacked because of their faith? (This happens because not everyone understands or agrees with 'No Outsiders'. Some people think the world is better of we are all the same and have the same faith, or same skin or live in the same way. It's the opposite view to us, we know that the world is better if we have different faith, different skin, if we live in different ways. We are not frightened of difference. But not everyone understands this view yet.)
- why have Jewish people been advised not to wear the Kippah?
- what do you think of this advice?
- How will this advice make Jewish people feel?
- what does the US Secretary of state mean by, "we must not shrink in the face of prejudice"?
- why are people encouraged to wear Kippah's on Saturday?
- Why is the campaign called "Germany wears the Kippah"? What is the campaign saying about Germany and Jewish people?
- What will the campaign show those people who want to attack people who are different?
- what can we learn from Germany and this campaign?
- Is one day enough? What can people do after the protest to stop prejudice?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat