India Week
During the week commencing the 5th November 2007 the whole school was involved in activities related to India. The year six teachers organised our visitors and we learnt a lot about India. Specifically we learnt about our partner school St Michaels in Solibaris which is in North East India. Jenny Baines who had visited St Michaels came to our collective worship to tell the children about the school and the children who attend.
The children in years 3 and 4 participated in Indian dance activities and were encouraged to learn some of the many different hand positions. The lady informed us that she had spent 7 years learning how to use the different gestures and movements. As a lower school we had a lot of fun learning new movements.
The children in years 5 and 6 were involved in Indian storytelling activities they were encouraged to use them whilst telling a story from the Indian culture. The children learnt a lot during the session and were able to use their storytelling skills later in the week.
As a school we looked at different ways to tell the children at St Michaels what life in England is like and to think about the differences between the two places. Some of the year groups looked at the issues surrounding fairtrade and learnt a lot about growing and gathering crops.
As a school our activities centered on the festival of Diwali which was celebrated at the end of the week. Different groups made rangoli pictures, diva lamps and learnt about Rama and Sita and the festival of Diwali. The children were encouraged to dress in traditional Indian dress and it was lovely to see all the different colours and patterns during our celebration assembly on the Friday. The children raised £90.00 which has been sent to St Michaels.
