A cross-curriculum, local history activity book
for KS2
Join our detective agency! Investigate the history and culture of your area!
Jewish Small Communities
Network connecting people & communities
THANK YOU!
Acknowledgements This booklet was created as part of a collaborative project between the Jewish Small Communities Network and Swansea University (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) bringing the public history expertise of the university and the community grassroots work of JCSN together to celebrate the heritage of small Jewish communities.
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The project team would like to thank all the volunteers, participants and communities of our project for all their support throughout our journey. The project team would also like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose support made this project possible.
Contents Natural Heritage
page 6
Reflect on special natural places in your local area.
Community Heritage
page 10
Use your creativity to think about the importance of community.
Family Heritage
page 14
Share objects, photos and journeys that tell the story of your family.
Diverse Heritage
page 20
Learn from others about the different heritage stories that are part of your local history.
Teacher Guidance • This booklet contains ideas and activities to support KS2 local history study. • Many of the examples given in this booklet link with other areas of the curriculum, in particular, Religious Education. • It is designed for upper KS2 learners (year 5 and 6), but activities can be adapted for the whole Key Stage.
The activities in this booklet are complimented by short videos, extended resources and teacher notes that can be found at: jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives Keep an eye out for the below video symbol throughout the booklet.
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Hello!
Our names are Sam and Sarah. We have been using our detective skills to find out about small Jewish communities in the UK. Now we are inviting you to join our detective agency and investigate the heritage of your local area!
So, what is Heritage? Heritage is anything of value that is or should be passed down through the generations. It could be an object, a building, a story, poem or song... But who decides what is ‘valuable’? YOU do - the Heritage Detective! You can investigate local history in the pages of this book! We’ll have lots of fun along the way and will recap everything as we go. We recommend you go through the booklet in order. However, your teacher might want you to start on a different page and that works too. 4
You’ll need some felt-tips in lots of colours…now let’s get going!
Use our template to make your own Heritage Detective Badge! HIDDEN HISTORY UNIT DETECTIVE INSPECTOR
Tell us three facts about yourself:
Great! Welcome to the team, Detective Inspector!
Word Bank Generations Do you know what this word means? Generations =
Now you try using it in a sentence, Detective!
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Natural Heritage So Detectives, what is natural heritage?
Natural heritage is about natural environments that are important, perhaps because a historical event happened there, or because they are a unique habitat for plants and animals. They might be places that are especially beautiful. They are all special for local communities now and for future generations. Places of natural heritage may feature special animals, like the golden eagles in the Uplands of Scotland or they might link to a specific historical period, such as Hadrian’s wall. Or they may show amazing geological features, such as the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
Word Bank Unique Do you know what this word means? Unique =
Now you try using it in a sentence, Detective!
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Last year I went to visit my cousins who are one of the few Jewish families remaining in the area. We went on a lovely hike in the hills I can see why they think this is a special place! This is a photograph of the town of Keswick in the Lake District, Cumbria. The Lake District is a hilly and rocky region in North West England. It is a popular place for holidays due to its beautiful lakes, woods and mountains. In 2017 it became a recognised World Heritage Site.
Can you remember a time when you went on a walk with nature around you? Maybe it was at a park, by a river, in a forest or on a beach. Use the space below to describe the walk you remember, using your senses.
Small Communities at jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives 7
Local places & Animals Detective, is there an animal that is special to the area where you are from? Or perhaps there is a part of nature that is important to your community, like an old tree in the park that is always used as cover from rain or as a meeting point.
Pictured above: Common Ash, a deciduous broad leaved tree.
Write the questions down here:
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Once you have thought of one, investigate all that you can about this animal or natural feature and come up with THREE questions about it. These can be things that you want to think about or find out more about.
Buddy Up
Now Detectives, turn to the person next to you and pick the two best questions for you both to spend some time researching. What did you find out together? 9
Community Heritage Community heritage is the memories and experiences shared by a local community. This could include stories about how an area has changed over time, perhaps when a group of new people moved in or a part of the area was rebuilt.
These stories may not be unusual but understanding people’s everyday and personal experiences is important. History is not just about big events and famous people!
Word Bank Community Do you know what this word means? Community =
Now you try using it in a sentence, Detective!
At the start of the Second World War, children from big cities like London were sent away, or evacuated from their families to keep them safe from German bombs. In a small seaside town, Lytham St Annes, the local Jewish community looked after many evacuees. 10
Imagine Imagine you are an evacuee to St Annes and you have just met your local host family who live by the seaside. Write a short postcard message to your family back home. Remember to include: • Who are you staying with? • What is it like staying by the seaside? • How do you feel? • Remember to sign your name with a fancy signature!
In 1939, in the first three days of evacuation, 800,000 school-aged children were evacuated across the UK! 11
Festivals, Songs & Food
The name Rosh Hashanah means ‘head of the year’ and is usually in September. It is a celebration of the creation of the world. We go to synagogue and blow the shofar (ram’s horn). We eat apples dipped in honey, for a sweet New Year. We also think about the last year. What did we do wrong? How can we make things better?
I celebrate Rosh Hashanah with my community. Detectives, have you heard about the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)?
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Pictured above: Blowing the Shofar
Pictured above: Eating apples dipped in honey.
What festivals do you celebrate with your community, Detective? Perhaps you celebrate Bonfire Night, Diwali, Eid or Easter? Which is your favourite? How do you, your family and your community celebrate it?
Use the space below to design an invitation to a special festival event below. Explain: • What the festival is about • The dress code • What food guests could bring • What will happen at the celebration
Celebrating Jewish Festivals at jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives 13
Family Heritage Now, onto family heritage. Lots of people get interested in heritage because they want to find out about their own family histories. Think about all the stories from your family or carers, the lives of your parents, your grandparents, your family friends, and more!
I wonder why:
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Find an old photo of your family or a historical photo, maybe a photo from before you were born – perhaps a photo from before your parents were born! Look at the photograph. What questions could you ask about the people in the photograph? Use the space below:
Are there any treasured objects or artefacts that have been handed down through the generations of your family?
Choose one of these objects and draw a picture of it in the space below.
Have any of your family ever featured in the local newspaper? Has anyone kept letters or cards written to them or other family members, or diaries?
I have silver candlesticks that came from my grandparents’ house. These are precious because they remind me of them. Word Bank Artefacts Do you know what this word means? Artefacts =
Now you try using it in a sentence, Detective!
Special Objects at jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives 15
Pictured above: Eastbourne, a beautiful seaside town in England.
Eastbourne, on the south coast of the UK, is home to a small Jewish community which has been there for a very long time. Many Jewish families in the UK have stories that reach back to ancestors from all over the world, from Russia and Eastern Europe, from the Middle East to central Asia. Immigration to the UK, and journeys onwards, for
example to Israel or the USA, are often part of Jewish family stories. Detectives, what journeys have you been on? Were your parents or carers born in the place where you live now? Were your great-grandparents born in another country? Have you ever moved somewhere new?
Family Origins at jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives 16
Here’s my Example!
Draw a map below to creatively show your family’s journey!
My Grandparents were born in Germany
My Parents were born in London
My Grandparents moved to the UK
I was born in Manchester
When I was 4 we moved to Cornwall
A dd
to
You start here. . .
more boxes if you nee
d
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Right Detectives, now lets look at you!
Our Identity You are an important part of your family’s heritage. Who we are is also shaped by the things around us such as friends, school and community. Important life events, local culture, national history, as well as wider developments around the world also affect our identity. Create an ‘All About Me’ mind map on the next page. Write down as many things about yourself as you can think of! You can use the prompts to help you.
Word Bank Identity Do you know what this word means? Identity =
Now you try using it in a sentence, Detective!
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Here are some prompts to help you build your mind map: Where you were born
Your hobbies
Who is important to you and how do they influence you Your favourite memories Your favourite food Your favourite places and why they are important to you
A dd
to
All About Me
d more boxes if you nee
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Diverse Heritage We have reached our last adventure, Detectives: Diverse Heritage!
Diverse heritage is about trying to understand the huge variety of histories, cultures, family stories and personal experiences of people. Some people think that there is only one history of the UK, with castles, kings and queens, but actually each community, family and individual have different experiences. They are all part of the history of the UK. Over time many different groups have immigrated to the UK from other countries. They have brought new foods, languages and music with them.
Word Bank Immigrated Do you know what this word means? Immigrated =
Now you try using it in a sentence, Detective!
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Pictured above: Bradford Reform Synagogue
Bradford is a diverse area and many different languages are spoken there, including Punjabi and Urdu. Bradford is home to a large Christian and Muslim community, as well as a small Jewish community.
Think about a time when you have helped someone from a different community to you, maybe at school, with your religious community or with your family.
• What did you do? The Bradford Reform • What did you learn from the Synagogue has been supported experience? by the local Muslim community Use the space below to write to help repair its historic your thoughts. building.
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Celebrating Diverse Heritage
So, Detectives, what makes your heritage part of the diverse story of the UK’s history?
Colour in the letters below, make sure each letter is different to the next! Each letter could represent different parts of your own heritage. Perhaps one of the letters could show your favourite colours and one could include religious symbols. Make your own or colour this one in:
Art Project If your whole class is doing this activity, why not get into groups to work on a large letter each to be displayed in your classroom! There are letters available to download from the website, or you can create your own!
Interfaith & Diversity at jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives 22
Buddy Up Every person and community has different experiences from one another. Learning from each other helps us understand the world around us. That is what heritage is about! Talk to the person next to you and find out about their family’s background. How are they different to you? Perhaps they have a different religion? Or maybe their family is from a different country to yours? Maybe they have different hobbies or watch different TV shows? Complete the sentences below to record what you discovered: My partner is called:
I learnt that:
Well Detectives, we have come to the end of our heritage investigation, but the fun does not have to end here! Write down three questions you have about your family or local area and use the skills you have learned here to start your next adventure. 23
Team up with a friend, partner, parent or try solving these mysteries for yourself, as you become a Heritage Detective! Learn & Investigate:
Natural Heritage Community Heritage Family Heritage Diverse Heritage Get ready for a quest as we explore how heritage can help us understand ourselves and our local communities.
This booklet is intended to be used for KS2 local history – please see Teacher Guidance inside on page 3. You will also find additional teacher notes and resources on our website. Visit our online Heritage Hub to find out more: jscn.org.uk/heritagedetectives This booklet was created as part of Connecting Small Histories: Ensuring Sustainability in Jewish History Projects, a collaborative project between the Jewish Small Communities Network [JSCN] and Swansea University, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Connecting Small Histories is designed to help schools and local communities reflect both on their own heritage and the Jewish heritage around them. Photo Credits: Front & pg 3 Pg 8 Pg 10 Pg 12 Pg 12 Pg 16 Pg 21
Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria - Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License CC BY-SA 3.0 Common Ash - Photo by Brian Green. License CC BY-SA 2.0 Evacuees in a Home - Photo by theirhistory. License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah - Photo by Len Radin. License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Apples and Honey - Photo by preservationgal. License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Eastbourne Pier - Photo by ChiralJon. License CC-BY-2.0 Bradford Reform Synagogue - Photo by Bradford4life. Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike 3.0
© Copyright 2021: Except where otherwise noted, this publication is covered under the Creative Commons licence CC BY-4.0. Attribution should be to ‘Jewish Small Communities Network’
