Bringing the curriculum to life (Part 1)
The place of Holocaust and genocide education within the curriculum is often debated. Our experience suggests that the more important question may not be where it sits, but how it is delivered.
Regenesis had been given the opportunity to take a diverse group of Year 6 pupils out of the classroom to the Lakes on our well-trodden Windermere Walk. We had plenty of adjustments to make to the planning, risk assessment and style and content of storytelling to facilitate this for 10 & 11 year olds rather than adults.
We shifted our language from Holocaust to genocide, from concentration camp to prisoner, and from escapee to survivor, and discussed the acceptance of immigrants, reflecting the second or third generation immigrant backgrounds of many of the pupils.
The head and Y6 teachers of this particular Manchester urban school rightly prioritise pupil welfare above all things, and that meant our standards could not slip below 100%. We decided to combine the role of storyteller and educator with that of walk leader so that the children could build trust and ask anything that came into their minds as they explored nature.
We were delighted to know that the curriculum had already provided enough background for us to build on gradually throughout the day from basic hill walking, navigation skills and waterside safety, to ending with a poignant reflection on some of the world’s worst moments, together with the lessons about kindness we can learn.
I was not expecting to be on first name terms with the pupils so quickly, and the day progressed from climbing Orrest Head via the Gruffalo carving (of course) to skimming stones where the refugee Windermere Boys played, before concluding at the football pitch and Tree of Life. Many had not been to the Lakes before, let alone to experience such a thoughtfully themed day trip.
The leaders and teachers were rewarded by seeing this group of children flourish and reflect in equal measure. This has cemented our ambition to take more such groups on this trip.
Feedback from the pupils themselves made it clear that they enjoyed the opportunity not just go to the Lakes, but to be taught how to safely enjoy the scenery. We learned about the journey of two Windermere Boys in particular. The strength and determination of Sir Ben Helfgott, and the remarkable story of Arek Hersch, whom we know well and were able to describe to the children first-hand.
Rather than attempt to describe the day in words alone, we have produced a short film that captures its spirit. It is a reminder that sometimes a single image really is worth a thousand words.
Thank you to our benefactors for making this trip possible. We hope there will be many more such opportunities to educate children on their transition from primary to senior school.
