Our focus for Day 4 of diversity week is discrimination and inclusion, with particular attention to disability awareness.

Begin by watching this story by Michael Rosen: This is Our House

All of the children in the story are different as we all are too! Recap why George says that other children can’t enter his house. Have a chat about why it was unfair of George to not let the other children in. How do you think it made them feel? When someone is deliberately left out of something or treated unfairly because of a characteristic they have, they are being discriminated against.

English

Watch this episode of ‘Magic Hands’ from CBeebies from about 6 minutes in to 9 minutes 30, when they draw the curtain. It is really important you watch the clip without any sound and without any subtitles! Also, adults, please do not tell your child the title of the poem from the name of the episode. Magic Hands episode

Have fun trying to work out what popular children’s poem is being recited just using the picture clues on the screen and by watching the ladies doing sign language. Is it easy to know what poem it is? If you guess what it is, try to join in – still with no sound or subtitles!

When you have watched it, go back to the start of the poem (at around 6 minutes into the clip) and this time listen again with the sound on. What difference does this make? I bet it’s a lot easier to join in now!

How did you feel when you first watched the clip without any sound or words? Was it confusing? Did you get a little bit bored? Were you distracted by other things that were going on around you? How difficult would it be if you couldn’t see the screen very well or if there were no pictures to look at?

There are many people in the world who may not be able to hear or see as well as others, and quite often they find it difficult to know what exactly is going on unless things are made clearer for them. Have a discussion about how the ladies are doing sign language so that children who have difficulties in hearing can understand what is going on. Try to join in with the sign language as best you can.

Next, learn the letters in the alphabet using the Magic Hands ABC game. 

Can you learn how to sign your name?

Maths

Today we are going to use our sorting skills.

Enjoy watching these penguins sorting shapes into a Venn diagram: BBC Venn diagram sorting

Watch this amazing advert for the paralympics: Superhumans paralympic advert

Next, have a look at the pictures of the different people: people sorting cards Do you recognise any of these people? All of the people on the cards are different from each other and some of the people on the cards have a disability. You may want to have a discussion about what this disability is. Do you think a disability is always obvious? After watching the Superhumans advert, do you think this disability stops the person achieving amazing things?! There are also many similarities between lots of the people on the cards. What are some of these similarities?

Using the sorting sheets below, sort the pictures into different groups. What different groups could you choose? You do not have to use all of the pictures!

Room 4 children could start by sorting the people into different groups depending on characteristics. Move on to the overlapping Venn diagram below. Room 3 children may also want to start with the same sheet and then try to sort the pictures in a different way choosing their own criteria (using the blank Venn diagram template).

Room 4 and 5 children have a go at this sheet: Venn diagram with labels

If choosing your own sorting criteria: blank Venn diagram with overlap

Creative task

There are many amazing, inspiring people in the world who achieve incredible things by finding different ways to do things to overcome challenges they may face. Here are two examples of brilliant artists who have found alternative ways to create amazing artwork: Swapna Augustine foot painter and Minda Cox painter

Your mission this afternoon is a tricky one! You can choose between the following two tasks:

a. Create a piece of art with something other than using your hand! Please do not put any pencils or paintbrushes in your mouth because this is not safe.

b. Try to draw or paint a picture with a blindfold on!

When you have finished, reflect on your work. How difficult was it to do this? Do you think your artwork is as good as it would be if you used your hand or you looked? Artists with disabilities spend a lot of time practising, just like you would need to do if you want to get really good at any skill. You might want to have fun exploring alternative – and safe –  ways of doing other things too!

Have a great day. x