About this Collection
What do I want to find out?
- To what extent pupils are able to see similarities between themselves and others and empathise with someone whose life may be different.
- To what extent pupils’ responses are stereotyped by gender, ethnicity or nationality.
What do I need?
- 4 images with either a black child or a white child looking at a photograph of black or white children playing. Choose age and gender appropriate photos for your pupils.
- Large sheets of paper with one of the images stuck in the middle of each.
- Different coloured pens/pencils
- Organise the children into groups of 4, and pair each group with another.
- Give each group a large sheet of paper with the image attached and a different coloured pen/pencil to use. Each pair of groups is given the same photo but with either a black child or a white child looking at it.
- Ask them to write down what they think the child who is looking at the picture might be thinking. Swap the images over so they are looking at the same photo with a different child looking at it. Write their own responses first before looking at the other group’s.
- Younger pupils may need support with writing down responses; if so record responses yourself or ask colleagues or volunteers to be note takers
How do I analyse the results?
- Sort the results into 3 categories:
- Comments about the black child looking at the black children compared with the white child looking at the black children.
- Comments about the black child looking at the white children compared with the white child looking at the white children
- Responses to what others have written
- Note whether they make any assumptions about the children observing or the children playing. Do they empathise more easily with either of the children observing? Do they challenge the assumptions made by children who wrote on the sheet before them?
- Look for increased awareness of similarities and common, shared human characteristics.
- Look for a decrease in stereotypes or negative assumptions based on ethnicity or assumed nationality.
- Look for changes in the ability to imagine and whether that is equal for both photos.
- Look for examples of increased critical thinking around any issues raised and about the activity itself.