Yorkshire and Humberside Global Schools Association

Sample Activities for

Primary
Schools

What do we think it is like in Kenya?
an activity from Speaking for Ourselves, Listening to Others(Leeds Development Education Centre, 1996)

Aim
to encourage pupils to think about
their perceptions of another country

Time required:
30 minutes

These stimulating and flexible resources promote the skills and attitudes to value diversity in society and the environment in which we live.

Using active learning approaches to encourage teamwork and to raise self-esteem, these resources ain to help pupils understand the increasing links between their own lives and those of other people around the world.

This sample sheet has been designed to introduce you to the type of resources available from DEDU. A complete list of the resources for primary teaching is available from the DEDU website - GO!

Background
We suggest that pupils are told that Kenya is an African country before they are asked to draw their pictures, as we have found that many young people do not have any perceptions of Kenya specifically but do have strong images about Africa in general. Some pupils may believe and think that all African countries are the same.

Pupils should not be made to feel that their perceptions are wrong if they produce images which may be considered to be partial or caricatured. Misconceptions may come from stereotypical images which the pupils have seen in the British media.

There is truth in the rural images we see of people living in traditional houses made of natural materials. Equally there is truth in the severe problems which are featured in our newspapers and television news.

The pack, Speaking for Ourselves, Listening to Others aims to provide an alternative perspective to help pupils develop a more balanced and informed view of Kenya.

What you need
World map or globe.
Plain paper, coloured pens and pencils.

What you do
Students should work on their own at first and then in small single sex groups. Tell the pupils they are going to be learning about Kenya and that Kenya is an African country. Show the location of Kenya on the globe.

1. Ask pupils to draw a picture to show what they think it is like in Kenya.
2. Invite single sex groups to brainstorm their collective ideas, recording words or phrases which they associate with Kenya. Discussion should be kept to a minimum and all contributions recorded.
3. Encourage pupils to compare brainstorms and pictures produced by groups of boys and girls and discuss reasons for any similarities and differences.
4. Invite pupils to share their opinions by giving their responses to such questions as:
Where do they get their information about different places? Do girls and boys have access to the same sources of information? Do pupils think that all African countries have similar conditions, problems and opportunities?

Get a global perspective with resources from DEDU

Links to the curriculum

The resources available from DEDU contribute to some of the curriculum requirements for the range of subjects represented in these sample activities.

For example, pupils should be taught:

- to think about the lives of people living in other places and times, and people with different cultures and customs

- to explore how the media present information

- to reflect on spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues

(from the framework for personal, social and health education and citizenship)

- to recognise how places…….are independent

- to recognise how people can improve the environment or damage it

- to recognise how and why people may seek to manage environments sustainably

(from the Geography programme of study)

from the National Curriculum
- Key Stages 1 and 2 (2000)