Cultural Day!

Monday 14th July 2025

In Year 3, we enjoyed dressing up for Cultural Day and celebrating different cultures. In P.E, we followed some basic Bhangra moves and applied them in a Bhangra/Street fusion dance. For our Music lesson, we learned all about fusion music, in particular Afrobeat! We listened to music, discussed the rhythm and the instruments we could hear -we even played a 'Guess the Fusion' game of music genres. The children really enjoyed learning about Aboriginal Art and have produced some amazing pieces of art!

What a fantastic day!

Year 4 had a wonderful time learning about Rangoli patterns during their Art lesson on Culture Day. Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form that involves creating beautiful patterns on the ground using coloured powders, rice, sand, or flower petals, especially during festivals like Diwali. The children were fascinated to learn how these designs are not only decorative but also believed to bring good luck and welcome guests.

In class, the pupils explored a variety of traditional Rangoli designs, observing how shapes, lines, and symmetry are used to create stunning patterns. They learned that many Rangoli designs are inspired by nature, including flowers, animals, and geometric shapes. The children also enjoyed looking at photographs of Rangoli art made during festivals in India, where families and communities come together to decorate entrances and courtyards.

After studying the art form, Year 4 had the chance to create and colour in their own Rangoli patterns. Each child chose colours carefully and worked thoughtfully to make their designs bright, bold, and symmetrical. There was a real buzz of excitement in the classroom as they compared patterns and encouraged each other.

To add a touch of fun and healthy competition, the class held a Rangoli design competition, just like they do in many parts of India during Diwali. The children voted for their favourite patterns, and certificates were given out for the most creative, most colourful, and most accurate designs.

It was a fantastic learning experience, blending art, culture, and creativity — and Year 4 can now proudly say they’ve had a go at this beautiful Indian tradition!

Children in Year 4 delved into the history of Reggae music. They learned about its roots and significance, and even sang along to some classic tunes, bringing the classroom to life with music and smiles.

In year 5, children began with a discussion about cultural identities and why these are important to some people. We discussed the value of diversity and the fact that our school, and the area we live in, is a diverse place.

We started our sessions with music, learning about Maqam music, which is the construction of Arabic classical music. Children used their legs as drums and beat out a classic maqam beat. It was tricky to keep up at times!

For our dance session, we met in the hall for some samba lessons! The children used the screen to follow the steps to dance to some samba music.

In our art session, we learned about African art, looking in particular at African patterns. We looked at geometric and symbolic patterns and used oil pastels and watercolours to create our own.

We had a wonderful time in Year 6 for our whole school cultural day. The children were given the opportunity to talk about their cultural background with their peers, which was very much enjoyed. We also investigated a range of cultures around the world by learning a rhumba dance routine and learning to play the samba on a range of percussion instruments. 

It was a truly special day, full of fun, learning, and appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our community.