Year 6 Reading Windrush TASK: Your reading task this week is about a poem called Windrush Child by John Agard. Before you start, read through the slides and follow the links to find out more about why Windrush is so significant
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Presentation Transcript
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Year 6 Reading Windrush<br>
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TASK: Your reading task this week is about a poem called ‘Windrush Child’ by John Agard.
Before you start, read through the slides and follow the links to find out more about why ‘Windrush’ is so significant…<br>
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Windrush Windrush Day takes place on 22 June, remembering the day when around 500 migrants from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948.
Britain was just starting to recover from World War Two back then. Thousands of buildings had been bombed, lots of houses had been destroyed and it all needed to be rebuilt.
In the Caribbean, lots of young men and women had served in the British armed forces because at the time, many Caribbean countries were still under British rule and not yet independent.
After the war, some of these people answered an advert to come to Britain where there were lots of different jobs to do.
Other people just wanted to see Britain, which they had heard so much about. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/43793769 To find out more and to see some videos, click on the link below: Read Mrs Madukah’s news story here: https://www.pegasusacademytrust.org/news/windrush-day<br>
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What happened when they arrived?
When the passengers landed they didn't always get the friendly welcome they had hoped for.
Many of them experienced racism and discrimination and often found it hard to get a proper home to live in and to make friends with British people.
It wasn't always easy for the new arrivals to get jobs. Some companies said they didn't want black people to work for them.
Later, many of their children were bullied at school because of the colour of their skins.
Some of them suffered racial attacks and in later years there were riots in cities across Britain.<br>
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Windrush Child
by John Agard
Behind you
Windrush child
palm trees wave goodbye
above you
Windrush child
seabirds asking why
around you
Windrush child
blue water rolling by
beside you
Windrush child
your Windrush mum and dad
think of storytime yard
and mango mornings
and new beginnings
doors closing and opening
will things turn out right?
At least the ship will arrive
in midsummer light and you Windrush child
think of grandmother
telling you don't forget to write
and with one last hug
walk good walk good
and the sea's wheel carries on spinning
and from that place England
you tell her in a letter
of your Windrush adventure
stepping in a big ship
not knowing how long the journey
or that you're stepping into history
bringing your Caribbean eye
to another horizon
grandmother's words your shining beacon
learning how to fly
the kite of your dreams
in an English sky
Windrush child
walking good walking good
in a mind-opening
meeting of snow and sun<br>
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Questions 1. In your own words, explain what you think the poem is about.
2. Which words or phrases tell you what the Windrush child left behind?
3. What sort of place was it?
4. Who will the child miss? How do you know? Insert text here Insert text here Insert text here Insert text here<br>
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5. Why is the child’s grandmother important to her/him?
6. 'Windrush child' is repeated four times in the first four verses of the poem. Why do you think the poet chose to do this?
7. Can you find another repetition or echo in the poem? Why do you think the poet chose to do this?
8. Do you like the poem? Why/why not? Insert text here Insert text here Insert text here Insert text here<br>
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Don’t forget to send your work to the Year 6 email address:
yr6@pegasusacademytrust.org
