The Redditch Peace and Conflict Project is drawing to a close and the final showcase/sharing event will be Monday 18 July at 1.15pm (earlier than previously given). It should end by 1.45pm. Thirteen children are participating.
Students formed three teams (the Suns, the Thunderbolts and the Stars) and created heraldic shields. Led by Micaela Schmitz, they have created their own battle song which consists of a chorus where the students composed the text, and using the rhythms of the words, set it to a tune.
Verses began life as slogans, which were expanded to describe elements on their team shields. These were nudged into melodic shapes.
As is common in special needs schools, the students devised actions almost at the same time as they created the texts, so their performance has a high degree of expressive movement.
Guided by Worcestershire poet laureate Heather Wastie, their words were shaped into three poems with the titles ‘Friends’, ‘Solitude’ and ‘Friends and Family’, which will performed interspersed with non-tuned percussion sound-scapes, to support the theme of conflict and peace making.
Led by Micaela, they learned ‘Dona nobis pacem’ and devised a peace dance to the music. They are also performing an updated version of ‘The Armed Man’, plus movements.
The students have really shone and as a high functioning group of KS2 children have been very supported by their music teacher, Sarah Mantle, and teaching assistants, to take this project to heart.
Although the project was originally designed to be shared by a mainstream school and a special school, the fact that it took place only with the special school students allowed a very free range of expression (particularly physical movement) to take place.
Poems created by the children guided by Heather Wastie during the project
Friends
Friends are part of us
Good friends love us
and we love them
Friends are kind
Friends can rely on each other
If friends break your heart
maybe they’re not such good friends after all
Friends are important
Friends are human
just like us
by The Stars
Solitude
Peace and quiet
where I can focus
No-one can annoy me
or wind me up
Where I can control
what happens
If I had no solitude
I’d be angry and upset
by The Suns
Friends and family
Be nice and kind to each other
Be brave for each other
Care for each other
Show love because friends are for life
Nothing’s as precious as friends and family
not even money or gold
If you upset someone, make it right
Say sorry and give them a hug
by The Thunderbolts
