Embracing Cultural Traditions

Here at St. Michael's, our team values ways to support diversity, inclusion and equity. We recognise the importance to promote a racially and culturally inclusive practice and environment.

Our setting prides itself on promoting positive relationships with people, promoting British Values and by weaving a wealth of diverse stories, music, reference books, posters, artefacts, fictional books, dolls and musical instruments that represent a wide range of cultures, into our everyday practice, every day of the year.

Annually in October we celebrate our diversity and Black History month – embracing the heritage of our families and discovering our friends’ cultures and traditions.

We have a variety of musical instruments from around the world and children were invited to have a go on these as they experimented making sounds….fast, slow, tap, tap, tapping, then building up louder and faster.

We counted the beats and also used rhyming sounds to make our songs.

In Hedgehog's Bakery, we made delicious homemade cornbread.  With its origins of that in the Americas where Native American tribes would enjoy it as a staple in their diet, it has a lovely sweet corn taste to it.  With its delicious, crunchy golden crust with a light and fluffy texture inside, it was a real winner with children and staff!

As the mixture stuck together in the bowl, we had to use our muscles to stir all the ingredients together.  This is another one of those activities that has many hidden benefits for children in their learning and development.  They are using large muscles to stir but in turn their muscles are getting stronger which is actually an area needed to develop as a pre-writing skill.  Their wrists and fingers are also getting a good work out.  Strengthening them for the future when they will refine their fine motor skills and grip needing to write.

 The cornbread smelt delicious whilst it was cooking in the oven.  Another successful cookery session!