Black History Month - Mary Seacole CV

Literacy
Text level

A re-enactment of the 17th Lancers at the Crimean War - the era of Mary Seacole

Overview

Black History Month has been commemorated across the UK for more than 30 years.

Throughout October, the event aims to highlight and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the black community in the UK. It's a bit like the way the Mobo music awards celebrate the contribution of the black community to popular music.

This lesson will enable children to understand more about Mary Seacole, a famous nurse born in Jamaica in 1805.

Learning aims

• To develop skills of biographical writing in role by preparing a CV.

Introduction

Click below to read the story:

Mobo Awards 2006

DIVERSE WORLD GUIDE Click here for our guide to Blacks and Asians in Britain

View the Mary Seacole slide show story and talk about her life. Present a blank CV with the following headings:

Name:

Age:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Education:

Skills:

Hobbies:

References:

Talk about the information which needs to be added to each category and create a CV by focussing on yourself, make it fictional or use another famous person, such as nurse Florence Nightingale.

Main activity

Children prepare their first CV based upon themselves.

When they are confident with the concept, begin researching the life of Mary Seacole.

Use internet, information books and/or printed web pages.

Extension activities

Write a recount about a time spent in hospital or going to the doctor.

Make a 10 point fact file about another famous person.

Word process the completed CV.

Plenary

FACT BOX CV stands for Curriculum Vitae - Latin for the story of your life Your CV has to be just that little bit special to stand out if you want to obtain interviews A cover letter should accompany a CV to say why you want the job

Role-play Mary Seacole being interviewed for a job. You could model the interview with another child before getting the children to prepare in pairs.

Teachers' background

• Mary Seacole was a pioneering nurse and heroine of the Crimean War.

• Born Mary Jane Grant, in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1805, her father was a Scottish soldier, and her mother a Jamaican mulatto.

• Mary learned her nursing skills from her mother who kept a boarding house for invalid soldiers.

• Although technically 'free', being of mixed race, Mary and her family had few civil rights - they could not vote, hold public office or enter the professions.