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Cross curricular Days 2011

Cross Curricular Day: Thoughtful Art – Holidays in Britain

On 21st and 22 June the Downs School students took part in various cross curricular activities. All Year 8 students participated in events run by the Art, MFL and RE Departments. The theme was ‘ Thoughtful Art: Holidays in Britain’ and every class went to 5 different activities where they had great fun designing, making and acting. We also had a sunny lunchtime on the field with summer holiday type music blaring from some speakers and ice lollies on sale."

stereotypical Brit

One session involved thinking about stereotypes, of our European neighbours as well as ourselves. Many of the teachers dressed up for the day as a stereotypical Brit going to the beach: wearing socks with sandals (!!) and carrying large parasols, picnic baskets, rugs, windbreaks and beach balls. Students were filmed acting out little scenes depicting how they think the British are perceived by foreigners. There were some clever and amusing presentations which included, egg & bacon breakfasts, queuing  and afternoon tea with the Queen.

Russian boxes

All students then turned their hand to making some ‘Russian’ boxes:  making boxes and lids by just folding a piece of card and making a few cuts in the correct place. Once this skill was mastered the race was on to make as many boxes as possible, each 1cm smaller than the one before so that they would fit inside each other like Russian dolls. The quality of this work was incredibly good and now the Year 8’s can buy Mum or Gran a little present and make their own giftbox for it! Students then wrote down their best holiday experience, folded it up and placed it in the smallest box.

One of the lessons was spent in a computer room producing some reflective work on ‘If I was a ... I would be a ...’ There were numerous suggestions about what they would choose to be if they were a type of holiday, a British landmark or the weather to name a few. Professional looking slides and posters were then created.

Perhaps the most important part of the day was making postcards to send to our link school, Araniko School in Nepal. Using one lesson to prepare and one to produce the finished item in the art room, students chose what aspects of British holidays they wanted to show the students in Nepal. Most cut out little pictures whilst some drew or painted their own design. The results are fantastic! Postcards showing beaches, beach huts, ice creams, camping, countryside and London landmarks have all been laminated and will be on display in the library in September prior to being sent to Nepal. Do go and look at them.