News

Black History Month

Posted on by Academy Author
16
Oct

This October, pupils at Leigh Academy Dartford have been celebrating Black History Month by learning about inspirational figures who have shaped history and continue to inspire future generations. Each year group explored the life and achievements of a different individual, deepening their understanding of courage, perseverance and equality.

  • Reception learnt about Martin Luther King Jr., exploring his dream of a fair and equal world for everyone.
  • Year 1 discovered the story of Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States, and discussed the importance of leadership and determination.
  • Year 2 was inspired by Serena Williams, celebrating her achievements in sport and her commitment to hard work and resilience.
  • Year 3 investigated Katherine Johnson, the brilliant NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts into space.
  • Year 4 learnt about Muhammad Ali, not only an extraordinary boxer but also a champion for justice and self-belief.
  • Year 5 explored the life of Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, recognising her strength and tireless campaigning for justice and equality.
  • Year 6 studied Rosa Parks, whose brave actions helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement.

Throughout the week, the children demonstrated our PYP Learner Profiles, showing that they are open-minded, caring, principled communicators. They worked collaboratively, sharing ideas and supporting one another as they produced creative pieces to showcase their learning — from drama performances and artwork to mind maps and written reflections.It has been a truly inspiring celebration of learning, reflection and respect — reminding us all of the power of standing up for what is right and believing that one person really can make a difference.

This image displays a speech bubble containing quotes that represent the spoken language of a Reception (age 4-5) student talking about Martin Luther King Jr. The quotes show the child's basic understanding of equality, segregation, and King's "I have a dream" speech.
A close-up photo shows a young student, likely in Year 1 (age 5-6), working on a fact file template about Barack Obama. The student is actively writing on the worksheet with a pencil.
This image displays a speech bubble containing quotes that represent the spoken language of a Year 3 (age 7-8) student talking about Katherine Johnson. The quotes focus on her mathematical abilities and her role in space missions like Apollo 13.
This image is a mind map created by a student in Year 2 (age 6-7) about the life and career of Serena Williams. It features two photos of Williams surrounded by sticky notes with facts about her family, tennis career achievements, and personal details.
This is a photo of a handwritten paragraph by a Year 6 (age 10-11) student discussing the historical impact of Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks (the caption says Rosa Parks, but the writing mentions Claudette and her contribution). The writing discusses the unfair treatment of Black people and how the actions of these individuals showed that people should be treated equally regardless of their color.
This is a photo of a handwritten passage by a Year 5 (age 9-10) student about Baroness Lawrence. The writing discusses her positive impact on society, including her efforts to change the Double Jeopardy law, and praises her as "selfless." A small drawing of a medal is also included, suggesting she "deserves this medal."
This image shows various handwritten notes and paragraphs, likely from a student in Year 4 (age 8-9), detailing facts about Muhammad Ali. The writing covers his boxing career, his name and religion changes, and his famous quote, "I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."