WORLDWIDE WEEK: or “from sampling sushi to survival in the snow”?

SLCJS was buzzing with activity as pupils took part in Worldwide Week from 12-16 November. Every child from Nursery to Year 6 celebrated ‘all things global’ and the colourful “Sharing Assembly”, with everyone in international dress, was the entertaining climax to an amazing week of investigations and fun.

From classrooms came the sounds of Bengali singing and Kenyan story-telling. Year 3 could be heard perfecting their Oz accents and learning the Hakka, while Year 4 sampled sushi and practised earthquake drill. Year 5 were spotted trying on crampons and balaclavas as they listened spellbound to Dr Clarke sharing his experiences of Arctic expeditions. The more sophisticated Year 6 grappled with Egyptian hieroglyphics and debated the challenges of poverty in less economically developed countries.

Our two brave Gappies, David and Lauren, shared their personal knowledge of their homelands and caught the KS2 pupils’ attention with stunning pictures of and .

Lunchtimes were enlivened by dishes from around the World. Russian potato cakes, French-style topped baguettes and Italian pasta – complete with flags from their countries of origin – all made for a mouth-watering midday break.

Atlases were much in evidence as pupils discovered where the hot and cold spots are around the globe. Lessons ranged from “What causes volcanoes?” to “So what would YOU pack for a crossing of the SaharaDesert?” Children were really made to think about how the environment affects man and the impact that humans have on their surroundings. It was a great cross- curricular exercise with some fascinating outcomes: paper was folded into origami frogs, poems were recited that made the listener feel chilly, foreign words and greetings were learnt, and costumes were donned that transformed Thanet pupils into flamenco dancers and the frightfully British Sherlock Holmes!

Indeed it was a memorable week for staff and pupils, and one visiting speaker commented that, although he appreciated his thank you letter, “his reward was from the fun gained” during his time spent with the children. Rumour has it that some SLCJS pupils are already planning what they will come dressed as next year!