ME AND MY FAMILY
ACTIVITY : ALL ABOUT ME
This activity would be suitable for first and second stage learners.
It is designed to show how all pupils share the same types of concerns regardless of cultural background. The individual profiles provided give an insight into the everyday lives of children from Gypsy/Traveller families.
AIMS
This activity provides an opportunity for pupils to
· Identify key concerns/highlights in their own lives and recognise some details that would be equally important for all children.
· Recognise that all cultures will have their own specific influence on individual responses.
How to use this activity
You will need
· Copies of All About Me profiles (Teaching Toolkit – Written Materials)
· Who am I? personal response sheets
Ask the pupils to complete a personal response sheet.
In pairs or small groups allow them to share their thoughts and find the similarities and differences.
· Gender
· Size of family and place in it – e.g. youngest/only child
Try to identify any reasons for the responses
Introduce the profiles of children from Gypsy/Traveller families and work through the process again.
It is important to emphasize the comments that any one in the class can relate to – sometimes the reasoning behind it may be different.
Animals – horses / dogs / canaries may be more than pets to the children – they may be part of a business.
Communication – most of the children in the class will have access to a mobile phone – for mobile families it is essential if they are looking for work or separated from parts of the family.
Gender – all members of a Gypsy/Traveller family will have a role in daily life. Many of these roles are still gender specific – this may be why girls are fed up with cleaning and boys feel the need to pass their driving test.
Cultural pressure – there is an expectation that children will work within their family businesses and in time become self-sufficient – worries about providing for their family can fall on young shoulders.
Police/legal issues – there is a level of mistrust between Gypsy/Traveller families and the police. Families expect unfair treatment and prejudice from police officers. Police officers may be fearful when approaching a group of Gypsy/Travellers.
In dealing with issues of discrimination and prejudice it is helpful to take account of the stage of learning and the level to which this influence responses.