Inspiration Africa! St. John Rigby RC College introduction day

INSPIRATION AFRICA!
Project 12
St. John Rigby RC College
INTRODUCTION DAY

The introduction day started with Viv, from the Horniman Museum Education Department, showing the African Worlds handling collection and focussing particularly on the Kemet items.

Pupils were able to try out the headrest.

(The pupil) is lying down on a head rest which is from Africa
He comments "it hurts"!
(The pupil) is lying on a neck rest that the Egyptians used for sleeping or resting

They played the instruments:

Talking drum, net rattle, shaker
Shaker, talking drum and something else!

Year 9 pupils WWW Comment Forms

Year 9 were able to closely inspect the collection, try on the garments and hats and play the musical instruments. They then selected one item and drew it in detail.

Tony then introduced the screen printing process and pupils began work simplifying their observational drawings to use as cut out paper shapes.

After lunch Viv spoke to the pupils about the nature and philosophy of their keyword, belief. Quoting from Bertrand Russell, she spoke of the example of the turkey that 'believed' that whenever the sun came up the farmer would come and feed it. One day the sun came up but the farmer did not bring the turkey its food - instead he broke its neck because it was Christmas day.

Viv explained how Bertrand Russell had used this story to illustrate the fact that we can never assume anything in the future just because things have been that way in the past. Every assumption then must be built on 'Faith', and 'belief ' may be built on this assumption.

Pupils were then asked to write down 7 of their own beliefs beginning each sentence with "I believe in/that". Below are a selection of the beliefs.

1. I believe in reincarnation
2. I believe in aliens from outer space
3. I believe in God and Jesus
4. I believe that life is precious
5. I believe that no-one will live for ever
6. I believe in freedom
7. I believe that life is what you make it

1. I believe in Heaven and Hell
2. I believe in life after death
3. I believe that everyone finds true happinness once in their life
4. I believe in growth
5. I believe that I will grow up
6. I believe in the spirits of dead people
7. I believe that war is wrong

The pupils then completed their cut out shapes and printed an introduction day banner. First of all they printed with cold colours and then overprinted with warm colours.