Celebrating Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Diversity
SMSC class representatives and Pupil Voice class representatives met and decided on the celebrations around the world and in Britain that we haven't yet celebrated and they would like to learn more about. The below table shows the children's choices.Religions are taught throughout the year, in all year groups, in accordance with Stoke on Trent's agreed syllabus.
At Newstead Primary Academy, we provide many opportunities for our children to Personally Develop. Providing the children with learning opportunities beyond the classroom and a curriculum that gives a diverse look at the world around us. We ensure that our curriculum is diverse and provides children with Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural understanding, as well as making them a great British citizen and understanding how the British Values are filtrated to all parts of the School day.
| 2024/2025 | Celebration/Festival/Historical Event Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn 1 | ||
| 01/10/24 | Black History Month Actual date of celebration - The Month of October | |
| Autumn 2 | ||
| 11/11/24 | Remembrance Day - observance Actual date of celebration - 11/11/24 | |
| Spring 1 | ||
| 24/01/25 | Burns Night - Scottish celebration (afternoon only) Actual date of celebration - 25/01/25 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| 28/02/25 | Ramadan - Muslim religious observance Actual date of celebration - 01/03/25 | |
| Summer 1 | ||
| 08/05/25 | World Red Cross Day - observance Actual date of celebration - 08/05/25 | |
| Summer 2 | ||
| 01/06/25 | Shavuot - Jewish religious observance Actual date of celebration - 03/06/25 |
Black History Month - October
Nursery
Nursery had a fantastic day celebrating Black History Month. We focused on ‘Hidden figures' and learnt all about Dorothy, Katherine, Christine and Mary and their impact on the Space race! We made our own rockets and stars using different collaging materials. We also used a range of materials like wool, paper plates and googly eyes to make their faces and also our own faces! We understand that everyone is different and equal. In the afternoon we got messy making marks in the glitter with stars and kneaded the salt dough to make our stars to hang, just like the ones in space! It was such a fun day.
Reception
Today we learnt all about the story ‘Hidden Figures' and what Black History Month means. We created our own role play, making rockets out of big boxes and acting out the story. We used our creative skills to make stars and 3D rockets. We read lots of different stories too to help with our learning, like ‘My Hair' and ‘In Every House on Every Street'.
Year 1
We have celebrated by making acrostic poems to show the importance of equality and how everyone should be treated the same! We have also made our own rockets – as our theme today was ‘Hidden Figures' (the true story of 4 black women and the space race).
Year 2
Today we learnt all about Black History Month and we have read and discussed all about 'Hidden Figures' which recognises the pivotal role that four African American mathema- ticians Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Chistine Darden had on the space race. We have then created planets and have had the opportunity to write inspirational quotes.
Year 3
Today we have learnt about, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden and Mary Jackson the “human computers†behind NASA's launch of astronaut John Glenn into space. As a class, we read the story ‘Hidden Figures' and discussed the four inspirational women who changed history for Black Women. During the afternoon, we each created a handprint to represent them and highlight how their amazing mathematics changed engineering and programming.
Year 4
Today we have discussed the importance of Black History Month and have linked our learning to four inspirational Black mathematicians. The story of Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson was told in our story ‘Hidden Figures'. In the morning, we imagined that we were news reporters at the launch of Friendship 7, a rocket which could not have flown without mathematic calculations. In the afternoon, we created mathematic symbols with space themed decoration and made 3D rockets.
Year 5
Year 5 have had wonderful day today learning about Black History Month. We started the day by looking at the theme for this year– Reclaiming Narratives. We then learnt all about Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, who helped to create the first rocket that went to the moon, even though they were discriminated against due to their ethnicity. We wrote a speech to the company that they worked for about this saying how unhappy we were with this discrimination. In the afternoon, we created symmetrical equality banners . We tried to make these like banners that you would see that promote equality.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a wonderful day, immersing themselves into their learning of ‘Black History Month' and the theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives'. The children started the day researching the story 'Hidden Figures.' then used their creativity to create to take part in a protest. In the afternoon, we linked our art to our artist ‘Andy Warhol' and the style of ‘Pop Art'.
Remembrance Day - 11th November
Nursery
On Monday 11th November Nursery spent the day learning about Remembrance day and the significance of the poppy. We took part in lots of creative activities such as collaging, potato printing and building with blocks to make a poppy. At 11 o'clock we had a two minute silence to show our respects.
Reception
Today we learnt all about Remembrance Day and why it is important. We talked about how people remember, some wearing poppies, laying wreaths or taking part in parades and some children were able to share their experiences of their own family. Throughout the day we have create some poppy collages, thinking about them in the fields and the ones we wear and we have even planted our own seeds. We will care for these of the coming weeks, looking at what they need to grow.
Year 1
We started the morning by understanding the importance of Remembrance Day. We discussed how animals played a crucial part in the war. To help us to understand how soldiers relied on these animals we used drama to act out what it would have been like as a soldier and animal during the war. We used all of this to produce a creative piece of writing. Finally, we finished the day by creating a purple poppy. This is a symbol of remembrance in the United Kingdom for animals that served during wartime.
Year 2
In Year 2, the children found out what Remembrance Day was all about and we discussed why people wore poppies. The children then created poems to celebrate Remembrance Day and they also had the opportunity to make poppies using plastic bottles.
Year 3
Remembrance Day is on the 11th November each year. This is because WW1 ended on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month in 1918. Today marks the 106th Armistice Day since 1919. Today we have learnt about the Poppy and how it is a symbol of remembrance, and why the poppy is used to remember fallen soldiers and animals. We have also discussed how the money raised from the poppy appeal is used to support many injured soldiers. In addition, we wrote our own non-chronological report about Remembrance Day. During the afternoon, we created our own silhouette painting of a soldier. Overall, we had a very interesting day, learning about Remembrance Day and why it is important to remember those who have fought and fallen for us.
Year 4
On Monday 11th November , Year 4 spent the day remembering all of the people who have bravely fought in combat for the life that we are fortunate to have today. We discussed why we remember the brave, fallen men and women and the reasons behind the symbolic poppy. We held a 2 minute silence at 11am when the guns would have fallen silent at the end of WW1. Year 4 then created a fact file based on why it is important to remember and reflect on this day and how people show respect. We ended the day by making stain glass poppies.
Year 5
Today we have remembered those who fought for us in the war! We will never forget all that they did for us! We discussed the reasons why we celebrate remembrance day and why is it important all over the world. We listened to songs sung by soldiers during the war, we heard a story of one particular soldier who lost his leg during a bombing and how his friend died on the battlefield. We then looked at a letter which had been written by a solider from his trenches and we tried to put ourselves in his shoes and become him for the morning. We wrote a letter to a family member explaning what was happening and how we were feeling. In the afternoon, we made different variations of poppies using different materials and textures. We learnt that poppies are a symbol for remembrance day because they are the only flower that grew on the battlefields after the war.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a wonderful day, immersing themselves into their learning of Remembrance Day. The children started the day looking at different diary entries from during the War, and used these as inspiration to write their very own diary entry. They then used their creativity to create a poppy field using water colours.
Burns Night - 25th January
Nursery
Today Nursery learnt all about the celebration of Burns Night after Robert Burns. We danced to Auld Lang Syne which was written by Robert and listened to the tune of the bagpipes. We collaged the Scottish flag and decorated shortbread with the right colours. We also had a go at weaving a tartan pattern into kilts and creating tartan patterns with paint. We then made a traditional neeps and tatties dinner. It was such a fun afternoon.
Reception
Today, Reception have been learning about the Scottish celebration, Burns Night. We had a sing and a dance to one of Robert Burns' most famous song, Auld Land Syne. We talked about the mysterious Loch Ness Monster and made Loch ness puppets!
Year 1
Y1GC looked at the importance of Burns Night—people in Scotland celebrate by having Burns Supper and playing bagpipes. We learned that Robert Burns is a famous poet and song writer. We made our own Scottish highland cows!
Year 2
In Year 2, the children found out what Burns Night is all about and we discussed why people celebrate it. The children then created their own tartan weaves and wrote about what they had created.
Year 3
Today we have learnt about, Burns Night which is celebrated on the 25th January because of Robert Burns, who was a Scottish poet. We learnt that people celebrate Burns Night by eating a special supper of haggis and they read poems by Robert Burns. Today we created thistles as these are the national Scottish flower and they are collected for Burns Night.
Year 4
Today we have discussed the reasons why Burns Night is important to people in Scotland. We learnt about Robert Burns and his poetry. We even listened to bagpipe music! Then we created our own version of Scotland's national flower: the thistle.
Year 5
Today, we have spent our time celebrating Burns Night (a Scottish celebration) by beginning to understand the life of Robert Burns. We also explored some of his famous poetry. We listened and read some of his more traditional poems, while discussing the themes behind his work. During the afternoon we created our own version of bagpipes and decorated them in a classic Scottish tartan pattern.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a wonderful afternoon, immersing themselves into their learning of Burns Night. The children started the afternoon looking at a poem inspired by Burns Night and translating it to English. Children then spent the remainder of the afternoon creating their very own origami Scotty Dogs.
Ramadan - 28th February
Nursery
Today Nursery learnt all about the Muslim celebration of Ramadan. We took part in lots of creative activities such as collaging lanterns and squeezing brown paint through a small hole onto hands to create a henna pattern. In the afternoon we listened to beautiful music and performed a Ramadan dance. We read the story of Rameena and how she celebrated Ramadan with her family.
Reception
Today we learnt all about Ramadan. We learnt that Muslims celebrate the festival of Ramadan and they do this by fasting all day and eating a celebration meal on the floor after. We performed a dance to celebrate the new moon. We looked at pattern on clothing, hands and within the mosque and created some patterns of our own. We learnt all about the Mosque and how it is special and holy.
Year 1
Year 1 looked at what Ramadan is and why it is celebrated. We looked at traditional foods that Muslims may eat during Iftar. We were also lucky enough to try some of these foods—samosas, pakoras, rice, bread and chickpeas! Then we created our own prayer mat.
Year 2
We looked at and discussed the religion of Islam and how Muslims follow this religion. The children all really enjoyed finding out what Ramadan was all about and why it is celebrated. We have discussed what Muslims do to be charitable during Ramadan. The children then had the opportunity to create a Eid-al-Fitr card.
Year 3
Today we have learnt about Ramadan. Ramadan is an Islamic festival that is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is celebrated all over the world by Muslims. During the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims fast to help focus on Allah and gain self-discipline. It helps them to think about people that are less fortunate than they are. Eid al-Fitr is a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.
Year 4
We have explored Ramadan traditions across the world. Each country has its own specific traditions and celebrations. We located these countries on a map. After, we created a good deed calendar as a class, as Muslim children try to behave their best during Ramadan. Then, inspired by the Egyptian celebrations, we created lanterns to symbolise unity.
Year 5
Today, to celebrate the start of Ramadan we have created a fact file detailing everything we know about Ramadan. We have explored why Ramadan happens at different times of the year every year. Then during the afternoon, we created Islamic tessellations in the style of Islamic art. We are aiming to celebrate in a variety of different ways that immerse us in Islamic culture.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a wonderful day, immersing themselves into their learning of Ramadan. The children started the day taking part in a debate on whether children should Fast or not during Ramadan. Children then spent the remainder of the afternoon designing and sketching their very own mosque.
World Red Cross Day - 8th May
Nursery
Today we learnt all about World Red Cross Day and how they help people all around the world. We looked at all different people who help us. We made ‘helping hearts' with our hands and took part in lots of role play activities involving Doctors, Nurses and much more! We played games like snakes and ladders. It was such a fun afternoon!
Reception
Children explore what World Red Cross Day is and why it is celebrated. In the classroom we created our own stained glass red crosses and friendship bracelets. We discussed how important it is to be kind to each other and we did this by sorting kind and unkind behaviour.We used small world to act out different situations and used bandages and cotton wool to care for each other too.
Year 1
This afternoon we learned all about the amazing work the Red Cross does around the world to help people in need, especially during emergencies and disasters like floods, earthquakes, and fires. The children explored the different jobs Red Cross workers do. We became a Red Cross worker and wrote a postcard from a disaster area, telling our friends how we were helping people. Our imagination and empathy really shone through! We then created our own charity craft boxes, filling them with pretend supplies like food, blankets, water, and medicine — just like real Red Cross supply kits.
Year 2
We looked at and discussed the Red Cross and what they do. We looked at their key principles and how they help others all over the world. We spent the afternoon writing instructions on how to be a good friend and made kindness wreaths.
Year 3
Today we have learnt about The Red Cross organisation which is celebrated to show awareness of the international help it provides for all. It contains 97 million people around the world. We learnt that people celebrate The Red Cross because of the hard work and help they provide; giving first aid, keeping families together, giving clean water and food to those in need. Today we wrote a letter of thanks to a Red Cross worker.
Year 4
Today we have been inspired by the Red Cross organisation to think about ways in which we can support others. We have created a kindness chain full of helpful ideas.
Year 5
Today we learnt all about World Red Cross Day. We discovered that volunteers from all around the world work together to help in times of emergencies and crisis. As a class we discussed all of the reasons how and why teams from the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement help others. We looked at the symbols which are used to indicate help and care. We then talked about how we can thank and support these organisations through fundraising, saying thank you and taking classes such as their first aid certificates. Finally, we created our own mosaic symbol to represent World Red Cross Day.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a wonderful afternoon, immersing themselves into their learning of World Red Cross Day. The children started by learning about who the Red Cross are and what they do. Children then wrote a diary entry from the perspective of a 'Red Cross Hero', detailing what a day in their life may look like.
Shavuot - 3rd June
Nursery
Today Nursery looked at the Jewish celebration of Shavuot. We learnt all about the story of Shavuot and created our own 3D flowers, just like the blooms under Mount Sinai when the Torah was revealed. We then created our own Torah scrolls using tea staining. We wrote inside them the kind things that we could do. We used playdough and lego to build our own Mountains and used collaging materials to create flowers that would be used to decorate their houses.
Reception
Today we have learnt about the Jewish festival Shavout. We shared what the festival is and how it is celebrated. We learnt about the Torah and a Synagogue. We took part in some traditional Shavout dancing and created our own special floral headbands.
Year 1
The children have looked at how Shavuot is a Jewish celebration—it is a celebration of grain harvest and a celebration of the Torah. We learned that many years ago, Jewish people would harvest their wheat and fruit. Shavuot also marks the day when the Torah was given to the Jewish people for the first time. We created a calligram poem all about Shavuot fruits and we also created a harvest wreath.
Year 2
Today we looked at and discussed Shavuot and what it means in the Jewish religion. We had a go at creating our own Ten Commandments, listened to Shavuot songs and created our own helpful hands.
Year 3
Today we have learnt about the Jewish festival Shavuot, which is celebrated every year, 50 days after Passover. Long ago, Shavuot marked the harvest of wheat and barley crops. Jewish people also celebrate Shavuot as they believe it was the day Moses was given The Ten Commandments by God. We created fruit baskets and wrote about things we are thankful for. Fruit baskets symbolise the importance of the beginning of the fruit market. These baskets were blessed at the temple by Jews.
Year 4
Today in Year 4, we explored how the Jewish festival of Shavuot is celebrated now and in the past. We learned about traditions like bringing first fruits, eating dairy foods, and hearing the Ten Commandments. We compared old and new customs in a table, then made our own tablets to show our class values and ethos, linking to the giving of the Torah.
Year 5
On Tuesday 3rd June 2025, Year 5 took part in an SMSC day learning all about the Jewish festival of Shavuot. We found out that there were many different reasons as to why this celebration takes place. To begin with it is a Jewish Harvest Festival that takes place fifty days after Passover. It also celebrates the time when the Israelites received the Torah from God on Mount Sanai and how the Ten Commandments were included in this, which are rules that Jewish people live by. We then learnt about The Story of Ruth, which is a religious story of a woman who helps another lady and follows her religion. We found out that King David, who was an important figure in Judaism, was a descendant of Ruth. In the afternoon, we all created our own Shavuot lanterns. We had so much fun coming up with our own designs and including some of the key symbols to remind us of the festival. We all really enjoyed our day and learnt lots about this celebration.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a wonderful day, immersing themselves into their learning of Shavuot—a Jewish Celebration. The children started by learning what Shavuot is, and created a newspaper report about the Torah being given on Mount Sinai. The children then looked at the journey that was taken by the Israelites’, and then created their very own map documenting this journey!
