Democracy

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-e9bb4f21-518d-4242-a1b1-71250990e639

What do you see in the picture, do you recognise anyone? Where were the photos taken, what is happening?

Last week Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. He was also the 45th President.

What is an inauguration?

How can you be 45th President and 47th President at the same time?

How do you become president of the United States?

Do we have a president in the UK? 

What is the system called where people are voted to be leaders and how does it work?

The inauguration ceremony usually takes place outside with tens of thousands of people watching but this ceremony was held indoors, in the Capitol Building, which is where the elected representatives  of America meet.

Why was the ceremony held inside this year? (because of freezing temperatures)

What is the building in the UK called where members of parliament meet? 

The photos show some very famous Americans who attended the inauguration. Do you recognise any of them?

The first photo shows three former presidents: Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama in the audience. Hilary Clinton stands with them.

In the second photo you can see the most recent president, Joe Biden, and his Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Both Kamala Harris and Hilary Clinton ran against Donald Trump in presidential elections and lost to him; Hilary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris last year.

How do you think Kamala Harris and Hilary Clinton feel about Donald Trump being president?

Why attend the inauguration, they could have stayed away

What does this show about Kamala Harris and Hilary Clinton?

In the US there are two political parties: Republicans and Democrats. Donald Trump is a Republican.

Barak Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden are all in the Democrat party, so why did they attend the inauguration?

What does this show about Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and Barak Obama?

Donald Trump was president from 2016 till 2020 and then In 2021, Joe Biden was elected as president. 

How do you think the inauguration of Joe Biden was different? What do you think Donald Trump did? (he didn't attend the ceremony - why do you think he chose to stay away?)

What is democracy?

How do you think you should you behave if you lose an election?

Many of the people in the photos hold very different views yet they all came together for the ceremony - why?

What can we learn from the people in these photos?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

Click here for an assembly about Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde and her sermon at the inauguration, The assembly is aimed at KS3/4 but you might want to use it in Y6. The assembly includes a contact address to write to Mariann to show support.

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

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Disney marriage

 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/gay-couple-engaged-dressed-disney-123118626.html

What do you see in the photo? Where do you think the photo was taken, what is happening?

The photo shows a marriage proposal in Spain between Jose Casanova and Cristian Broca. Both are dressed as Disney characters; Jose as Prince Adam from Beauty and the beast and Cristian as Aladdin. 

Why do you think Jose and Cristian chose to dress as Disney princes?

Who usually gets marred at the end of a fairy tale?

What do you think Jose and Cristian are trying to show?

Jose said; "Because every boy and girl deserves to grow up with LGBTQ+ references in their stories learning that love in all its forms, is as real and brave as fairy tales."

- What does Jose mean by LGCTQ+ references?

- Love in all it's forms - what does that mean?

- How can love be brave?

"Today we not only celebrate our commitment to a world where equal marriage is an unquestionable right, but also the fight for all public spaces, narratives, festivities , to belong to all people."

- what is equal marriage?

- public spaces, narratives, festivities to belong to all people - what does that mean?

- ae there times/ places where that doesn't happen?

Cristian said, "From this kid who always dreamed of his own fairy tale ending, but always thought the story wasn't written for him. We ALL deserve that happy ending and it's time to rewrite the tale."

- Why did Cristian think a fairy tale ending wasn't for him?

- what tale is Cristian re-writing?

"We all deserve a fairy tale ending, but this is just the beginning."

- why is it just the beginning?

- What does the law in the UK say about this? What is that law called? (Equality Act 2010)

- What other groups of people are referenced in the Equality Act? (protected characteristics)

- Some people believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, how do you think Joe and Cristian would respond?

- what do we say at our school about different families?

- Which British value is this about?

- Why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

football hijab

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ydx5jgndro

What do you see in the picture? What do you notice about the people, what do you think this story is going to be about?

Shahida is team captain of a Muslim girls football team in Peterborough. Last month the team won a national football championship and during an interview, Shahida talked about how it felt to be captain of a team where often the players are the only ones wearing a hijab.

- what is a hijab?

- why do some women wear a hijab?

Shahida says, "It's not easy to compete feeling like the odd ones out," but she feels proud of her team.

- Why might the team feel like the odd ones out?

- why might feeling like the odd one out (like an outsider) make it hard to compete?

"We have worked hard to get where we are. It is not easy to go out there and compete (sometimes as) the only hijabi girls team. It feels like we don't fit in. But in reality, you being the odd one out makes people take notice of you."

- Is this a good thing? What do you think of Shahida's comment? You might say people noticing you makes you feel worse! What are the two sides of this argument?

"You know how Superman wears a cape - my hijab is my cape. It makes me unique, it makes me special. This is my identity. It is part of me.. It makes me feel empowered."

- How can a hijab be like a cape? They are completely different...

- How can a piece of clothing be part of you and define your identity?

- What does empowered mean?

"At the end of the day - they are girls, we are girls and playing the sport we love."

- what does Shahida mean by this?

Inaya also plays for the team. She says, "Sometimes opponents make fun of us. We feel there is a bias sometimes which puts us down. But we try to use that to give us motivation to win. Even if we face barriers, we know we can overcome it."

- what does bias mean?

- What barriers do you think Inaya and her team are facing?

- What does motivation mean, how is Inaya using her feelings here?

The team want to encourage more girls from diverse backgrounds to get involved in sport. 

- why?

- How is this story about harmful stereotypes?

- What do we say at our school about stereotypes and being unique?

- Why is this about no outsiders?

- Which British value is this about?

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

New year

 

UK bursts into 2025 with spectacular fireworks display as world parties into New Year | UK News | Sky News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx2npvv2pnkt

What do you see in the picture? What's the story?

People around the world celebrated New Year last week with huge gatherings and firework displays in major cities.

 

 celebrations in Damascus, Syria

celebrations in Baghdad, Iraq.

This photo shows people celebrating in Moscow, Russia.

Why do so many people celebrate new year?

What is the famous song that many people sing as new year begins?

Should old acquaintance be forgot 

And never bought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot 

And old lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear

For auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet

For auld lang syne

What do you think these words mean, what are they saying, why sing these words as a new year begins?

The song is credited to Robert Burns who wrote his version in 1788, and was based on an old folk song. The words encourage you, on the last day of the year, to look back and remember friends fondly.

The top photo shows an image from the firework display in London.

During the London firework display, a holographic Paddington appeared and said this:

"As we enter the new year, I always remember what Mrs Brown says; "In London, everyone is different. But that means anyone can fit in. I think she must be right because although I don't look like anyone else, I really do feel at home. Happy new year, love from Paddington."

(there is a link to watch the clip in the Sky news link above)

What do you think about this little speech, why do you think the organisers chose those words to bring in the new year?

If you were to extend this speech, what could you say next?

What do we say at our school about being different and fitting in?

Why is this about no outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

Different Santa

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/12/03/black-santa-solidarity/

The Kennedy family live in Arkansas, USA. They put up their Christmas decorations this year, as they do every year, in front of their house. The decorations include a large inflatable Christmas tree and inflatable Santa next to twinkling lights. But this year after a week the family received a letter saying they should take the Santa down. The letter claimed to be from Santa and said, "I am a white man to you and have been for the last 600 years." At the end of the letter the writer suggested the family move to a different neighbourhood.

The family wondered if they had made the right choice and if they should move. They shared the letter on social media  but they were immediately deluged with messages of support from their neighbours. What do you think the neighbours did next? Slowly, one by one, Black Santas started appearing all over the neighbourhood. 

One of the first people to put up a Black Santa was 70 year old Chip Welch. Chip said the letter was, "not reflective of the kind of country I want to live in. We were all pretty concerned about it and we decided it would be poetic for everyone to get Black Santa's."

Will and Paula Jones live across the street and have put up a Black Santa. Paula said when she heard about the letter, "My first thought was, 'Where can I get one?"

Neighbour Ben Keller had a two year old son who is black. Ben says their son is "absolutely thrilled to see some Santa's that reflect back to him."

People have also sent donations to the Kennedy family, who have donated everything to charity. They have received over $1000.

- why would someone write that letter, what was their aim?

- how do you think the Kennedy family felt when they first read the letter?

- Chip Welch says the letter is "not reflective of the kind of country I want to live in" what does that mean?

- why do you think Paula immediately thought, "Where can I get one"?

- why do you think so many neighbours put up black Santas and shared photos?

- what does this story show about lots of people in America today and their attitude to diversity and difference?

- how do you think the Kennedy family felt when they saw their neighbours' reactions?

- Ben Keller says his Black son is "thrilled to see some Santas that reflect back at him" what does this mean?

- what does representation mean and why is it important today?

- Do you think it matters what skin colour Santa has?

- what can we learn from the Kennedy family?

- what can we learn from their neighbours?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

- Which British value is this about?

 No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (new for 2024)

Watch CPD films showing schools in 2024 using No Outsiders to teach community cohesion 

Train lines

 

https://londonist.com/london/transport/london-overground-line-names-now-out-in-the-wild

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2024/february/london-s-overground-lines-to-be-given-new-names-and-colours-in-historic-change-to-capital-s-transport-network

What do you see in the picture? Where is this taken? What does it mean?

This photo is taken on a platform at a London overground train station.

Last month, London train maps had 6 new names added. Train lines have been renamed or rebranded.

The new names are:

Suffragette Line

Liberty line

Lioness line

Mildmay line,

Weaver line

Windrush line

When a train line is changed, it takes a lot of work. Think about where passengers see those names as they travel on the trains; what things need to be changed (timetables, maps, signs on platforms and in carriages, announcements at stations.)

The aim, when London Transport looked for new names, was to honour histories and communities and choose names to showcase London's rich history, heritage and diversity."

What do you think that means?

How might they do that?

Do you know where each of the names come from?

Suffragettes line celebrates how people fought for votes for women and paved the way for women's rights. The line runs to Barking, which was where the longest surviving suffragette lived. Annie Huggett died there aged 103.

Windrush line- runs through areas of London with strong Caribbean communities and honours the contributions that people who arrived in England on the Empire Windrush ship that arrived in England from the Caribbean in 1948. People on the ship had been invited to Britain to help rebuild the country after World War 2.

Mildmay line honours a small hospital in London that for years has cared for people for many years, particularly LGBT people.

Weaver line honours diverse migrant workers in Bethnal Green and Hackney who built up London's textile trade.

Lioness line honours the achievements of the England's women's football team who continue to empower the next generation of women and girls in sport.

Liberty Line celebrates "the freedom that is a defining feature of London"

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said; "The new names and colours have been chosen through engagement with passengers, historians and local communities, reflecting the heritage and diversity of our amazing city."

- Why do you think London transport decided to do this?

- Why choose names of events and people that happened a long time ago, why not look forward instead?

- What do you think "The freedom that is a defining feature of London" means?

- Is freedom a defining feature of our town, our school? How do you know?

- Why didn't they choose more names like liberty; why not choose names like "Equality" or "Democracy" or "Welcome line"? Why choose real people/ real events?

- What does this show about the UK today?

- What can we learn from London transport?

- Why is this about No Outsiders?

- Which British value is this about?

 No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (new for 2024)

Watch CPD films showing schools in 2024 using No Outsiders to teach community cohesion 

Astronaut

 

She was working at McDonald's at 17. Now, she's become the first Mexican-born woman in space - Scoop Upworthy

What do you see in the picture? Who do you think is in the space suit, what do they look like in person? What kind of person becomes an astronaut?

  

This is Katya Echazarreta, Katya was an immigrant in America who was working in McDonalds serving fries aged 17. Today she is the first Mexican born woman to travel to space. 

- What is an immigrant?

- What is a stereotype and how is Katya challenging stereotypes about immigrants?

Katya is an engineer and science communicator. 

-What is an engineer?

- What do you think a science communicator is?

Katya says travelling to space has a huge impact on her and she wanted others to have the experience; "The only thing I could think of when I am back down was that I need people to see this. I need Latinas to see this. And I think it just completely reinforced my mission to continue getting primarily women and people of colour up to space and do whatever  it is they want to do."

Lot's to discuss in that quote- what do you think of what Katya says?

- What is a Latina?

- Why is she saying she wats to get primarily women and people of colour in to space; is that fair?

"Our greatest wish is that this experience encourages young people and children to dream and to dedicate themselves to STEM and to build a better future for all."

- What is STEM? (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics?

- How can STEM build a better future for us all?

- why does Katya want young people to dream and dedicate themselves to STEM?

Katya was an immigrant as a 7 year old when her family moved to America. She felt like an outsider because she couldn't speak the language. A teacher at the time told her she was not making progress and would have to be held back in class; "It just really fuelled me, and I think ever since then, ever since third grade, I kind of just went off and have not stopped."

- What made Katya feel like an outsider; her language or something else? (it was the other pupils not making her feel welcome)

- Do you think the teacher was right to say that?

- why didn't Katya give up in school?

Aged 17 Katya was determined to go to college so she had four jobs, including one at McDonalds, to earn enough to pay her bills and feed her family. 

- why do you think college so important to Katya?

Katya is now doing a masters degree at John Hopkins University and she works at NASA. She wants to be a role model for others.

- what is a role model?

- who do you think she wants to be a role model for?

Katya says, "Throughout my journey in engineering school, I was very aware of the lack of women in the field. I've been given the opportunity to help guide those girls and women who, like me, are looking for someone with experience in what they are going through. in the field"

- why do you think there are a lack of women in STEM?

- do you thin there are still stereotypes about scientists today?

- what can we do about this at our school?

- what can we learn from Katya?

- Why is this about No Outsiders? 

- Which British Value is this about?

 No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (new for 2024)

Watch CPD films showing schools in 2024 using No Outsiders to teach community cohesion