There are a number of national events that lend themselves nicely to learning outside the classroom in the coming terms. Here are eight dates for your academic diary worth noting down.
Martin Luther King Day: 18th January
Encourage students to remember civil rights campaigner Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. The date marks an annual celebration of his life; and although he was actually born on 15th January, the United States marked Luther King’s international day as the third Monday of every January. Tie in with topics such as PHSE and History.
World Book Day: 3rd March
World Book Day is a charity event held annually in the UK on the first Thursday in March. It is organised by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. Children of all ages are able to participate in the event; each child is given a £1 book token to encourage them to buy a book of their own in celebration of reading.
Shakespeare Week: 14th – 20th March
Shakespeare Week is a national annual celebration that aims to give school children a fun and educational encounter with the works and life of William Shakespeare. 2016 will mark 400 years of Shakespeare’s creativity, and a wide array of events will be taking a place across the nation – providing teachers with many opportunities to take their English, Drama and History students outside of the classroom.
World Health Day: 7th April
The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7th April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO). The event is held to mark WHO’s founding, and is seen as an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. Events, both regional and international, take place, often relating to a particular theme. Tie in with a Food Tec school trip or even PHSE.
Earth Day: 22nd April
Earth Day is an annual event which is noted worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year. Earth Day provides inspiration for teachers who’d like to tie in Science or History on a school trip.
International Day of Families: 15th May
The International Day of Families is observed on the 15th of May every year. The date reflects the importance the international community attaches to families, provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues, and increases knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. Ideal for a PHSE-related trip outside of the classroom.
Refugee Week: 20th – 26th June
Refugee Week takes place in June each year. It is regularly used as a platform for holding hundreds of arts, cultural and educational events. Refugee Week events are often intended to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the United Kingdom, and encourage a better understanding between communities. Top tie-ins include PHSE and for older students, Citizenship.
International Day of Friendship: 30th July
The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between people, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The event places particular emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity. Schools can involve themselves with outside learning through connecting with other schools and communities.
