History topic of the month
Highlighting significant moments of diversity and inclusion throughout history, this series of topics will help to generate interesting classroom discussion around diversity and inclusion at Key Stage 3.
Download the worksheets featuring information about the topic and discussion questions to help get the conversation going, as well as the posters to decorate your classroom walls.
The Epic of Sundiata and the Griots
We tend to assume that most societies have been keeping written records for at least a thousand years. However, many societies did not start using written records until the 14th century. These are known as non-literate societies. You can still find societies like this all around the world. But, even though they did not write down their histories and stories, this did not mean that they had no other ways of recording it and passing it along for future generations. Stories were told and passed on for each generation. This is called an oral tradition.
A great example of this is The Epic of Sundiata, which tells the story of the creation of the Mali Empire. This story has been passed along by storytellers called Griots since the 12th century.
About the author: This piece was written by Saffa Khalil. Saffa works for The Black Curriculum, a social enterprise campaigning for the inclusion of Black British history into the National Curriculum.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann, Stoke Mandeville and the Paralympic Games
UK Disability in History Month is an annual event running from 18 November to 18 December and celebrates the lives of disabled people in the past and present. In the past disability has often been viewed negatively, so it is important that we break existing stereotypes and focus on positive aspects of disability.
This month we feature Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a remarkable doctor, who greatly improved the lives of his patients living with life-altering spinal injuries. As part of his inspirational work, he created the Paraplegic Games that went onto become what we now call the Paralympic Games.
Download the free worksheet and posters to share with your class.
Black cowboys in the American West
October is Black History Month so to celebrate we are taking a look at the black cowboys of the American West. If you have ever seen a photograph of a cowboy or watched a Western film, it is likely that the all the cowboys you saw were white. But just like today, back in the 1800s America was a multi-cultural, hugely diverse society.
There were many black cowboys in the American West. Who were these individuals, and why have so many of them been forgotten by history?
Claudia Jones (1915-1964), Journalist and Activist
Claudia Jones dedicated her life to fighting inequality. She campaigned for equal rights across two continents. She faced racism and prejudice, but was determined to help build a better world.
She wanted to change the lives of ordinary people, by helping them find better homes and jobs, and giving them something they could feel pride in. She always put other people first.
Find out more about Claudia Jones:
Download the worksheet (PDF | 2.5MB)
Download the poster (PDF | 1.1MB)
The Dreyfus Affair
How would you feel if you were wrongly accused of something, and a court found you guilty?
What if the entire justice system was so determined to find you guilty, it ignored all the evidence? Imagine if your guilt was decided not because of what you had done, but because of who you were. In 1894 this happened to Jewish French Army officer, Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
Find out more about The Dreyfus Affair:
