Self-esteem and understanding themselves and others are important lessons in life being explored by children at Chilton Primary School in Ramsgate.
The ‘Good to be Me’ project encourages pupils to investigate the importance of family and community. Pupils have also had the chance to find out more about each other and the diversity of their whole school community.
Working in mixed year groups for an art day to explore the theme, pupils painted, crafted, drew, and sculptured their thoughts and ideas into a colourful array of work with each one telling its own personal tale.
Head of School Kate Law said: “The children have covered aspects of learning about ‘Good to be Me’ all term and took part in a collaborative craft afternoon of learning with children from different year groups – the idea was to mix with a range of children and work together with them.
“The project is aimed at helping children understand and be proud of their own identity and individuality as well as respecting and understanding that of others.
“It links closely with our values of Respect, Equality, Courage and Kindness and with our anti-bullying work.
“We talk to the children about how everyone needs mirrors – to see bits of themselves reflected in the world around them but also that we all need windows – to look and learn about people different from ourselves.”
Pupils are encouraged by positive messages and affirmations around the school including a quote from civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson – “Never look down on somebody unless you are helping him up” – and a simple yet effective credo across one wall of the assembly hall “I’m who I am meant to be – this is me.”
Children also explored what diversity means and why it is important to understand who they are and who makes up their local and wider community.
Anna, from Year 3, proudly displayed her colourful flower with each petal showing important things in her life – her family and pet cat, art in the style of Picasso, music notes as she plays piano, and flags of Ireland and Thailand where her granddad and nan come from.
Chloe created a Chloe’s Champions Tree to show all the things important to her in messages on each leaf, while Leo created a larger than life model of his younger brother Elliott.
Olivia and James in Year 6 decided to highlight the global importance of Mala Yousafzai as a prominent activist for the right to education after she survived a gunman’s assassination attempt on her as she returned home on a bus after taking an exam.
A celebration afternoon will be held when the children’s learning from the whole term will be on display in classrooms for families to view.
Report Pete Barnett