Ten ways for Primary

schools to celebrate

Year of the Child 2009

(1)   Research the work of UNICEF and create a display to inform pupils, teachers, parents and visitors about its work.  Start your research at www.unicef.org.uk.

 (2)  Discuss the UN Convention on Children’s Rights at staff and governors’ meetings.  Ask how these Rights and Responsibilities can be embedded in your school ethos and curriculum. 

(3)  Ask UNICEF for posters and free class sets of leaflets presenting Children’s Rights and Responsibilities for display and use in school.  Then visit the on-line shop to buy other good educational resources.

(4)   Use the Find the Rights poster and child-friendly list to help children become familiar with their Rights and Responsibilities.  Download the screen version for free or buy an A2 paper version from the teachers’ zone of www.unicef.org.uk.

(5) Become a Rights Respecting School.  A Rights Respecting School not only teaches about children’s rights but models rights and respect in relationships between children, teachers, parents and the community.  Apply for the RRS Award and work as a school to achieve it in 2009.  Check out the website rrsa.unicef.org.uk.

(6) Make the most of Assemblies to think deeply about the Rights of the Child.  Download some UNICEF assemblies or design your own, inviting children to help.  You could also buy the Diocesan ‘Year of the Child’ Assemblies CD which links stories of 12 Bible children with the Rights of the Child.  Available from helenm@stedmundsbury.anglican.org.

(7) Many local churches are taking the opportunity to celebrate childhood during 2009.  The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich are hosting many events e.g. a Year of the Child School Arts installation at Bury Cathedral from June 17th-19th 2009 and a Christmas Crib competition and display across the county in the late autumn.  Find out what is going on near you.

(8)  Get involved in Day for Change (6 February 2009 or another suitable day).  Every year thousands of schools join this event to raise funds for UNICEF and learn about children's lives in different countries.  Schools receive a free education resource pack with posters and a CD-ROM full of assembly ideas, case studies, a photograph library and fundraising ideas to make the most out of the day.  Find out all about it on www.unicef.org.uk.

(9)  Mark November 20th as Universal Children’s Day in some way e.g. Sing songs and dress up in costumes from round the world.  You could also investigate ‘World Explorers’ on the UNICEF site and play interactive games and watch videos of UNICEF’s work with children.

(10)  Support a child in need through an appropriate aid organisation e.g. Save the Children, Tear Fund, World Vision, CAFOD, etc. in response to Article 24 which says richer countries should help poorer countries achieve good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment for all children.

ChurchschoolsEast supports Church School Improvement in the Dioceses of Ely, Norwich and St  Edmundsbury & Ipswich

Copyright © ChurchschoolsEast, 2008, 2009 - Page last updated 16 December, 2009 : Web design, Chris Wall, 2008 , 2009