School materials
These antiracist education lesson plans have been developed to provide high quality teaching and learning materials for use in all stages of primary and secondary school.
There is something here for everyone, ranging from lessons that can be readily linked to existing class/year topics to ‘one-off’ lessons aimed at introducing or re-invigorating pupil interest and understanding in the subject matter.
The lesson plans have been grouped into four categories. While all categories are relevant for all school stages, some are more readily applicable to particular age groups.
Historical connections
These lessons provide pupils with insights into our historical connections with a wide range of ethnic and racial groups and cultures. In many cases, they will add most value to pupils’ learning as part of a wider theme/topic in the same or a related area. While based on history, all lessons encourage pupils to reflect on key ‘messages’ from a present-day perspective. These lessons are mainly aimed at upper primary school and secondary school. There are five areas to choose from with a range of lessons in each:
- Black resistance to the transatlantic slave trade
- Black Victorians
- Laws and behaviour that isolated and impoverished the Irish
- Scotland and the Abolition of the Slave Trade
- Scientific inventions
New arrivals
These lessons provide a more contemporary perspective on different ethnic and minority groups in the country today. They encourage pupils to consider both the challenges and hardships which ‘new arrivals’ encounter in integrating within our society. The lessons also encourage pupils to consider the roles we all play in making such integration a more positive experience for everyone. These lessons are mainly focused on mid and upper primary school and all secondary school stages. There are six areas to choose from:
- Anka: story of a Polish girl
- Changing face of Scotland
- Citizenship test
- Moving here
- Refugees
- Zlata’s story
Deconstructing racist incidents
These lessons have a more conceptual focus, in developing pupils’ understanding of racism - the causes, effects and wide-ranging repercussions. The lessons encourage discussion and debate, as well as developing pupils’ reflective ability and responsibilities as citizens within a democratic society which wrestles with racist problems. These lessons are aimed at secondary school pupils and there are five areas to choose from:
- All different, all equal
- Understanding origins
- Understanding racism
- Where is this place?
Knowing and supporting each other
These lessons encourage racial tolerance through understanding. The lessons aim to generate support (for each other and our communities) and empathy through stories and insights into the lives and hardships of others. While the themes are relevant across all primary and secondary stages, the lessons are mainly aimed at lower and mid primary school.
There are three lessons to choose from:
- A recipe for myself
- Persona dolls
- True stories
Related resources
Show Racism the Red Card
This campaign, which uses top footballers to educate against racism, has a number of useful resources including DVDs and videos exploring the issues.