The story of The Paper Bag Princess by Edward Munsch helped our younger children to think about how making judgements based on a person's appearance is not a fair way to treat people. 

We took part in a 'walking debate', where children moved around the room to show whether they thought hypothetical scenarios were fair or unfair.

The prospect of girls not being allowed to play in the construction area and children with brown hair being allowed to go home 5 minutes early caused indignation and lots of discussion!

Our Key Stage 2 children took part in a 'Strangers on a Train' activity. They were given 5 descriptions of passengers on a train and had to choose who they would like to sit beside:

1. A seat opposite a mother and her young daughter (you think she’s about 4 years old). From the books, tablet and sketchpad on the table it is clear the child has plenty to keep her occupied. At the moment her mother is reading her a story.

2. A seat next to a young man who is wearing a thrash metal tee shirt who has lots of piercings and a large pair of headphones.

3. The window seat of a pair. The aisle seat is taken by an elderly woman who is chatting to the man sitting across from her. On the table in front of her is a thermos flask, sandwich box, copy of the Daily Mail and pair of glasses.

4. A seat next to a middle-aged man in a business suit with a laptop on the table in front of him. He is on the phone and speaking quite loudly.

5. A seat next to another that is currently unoccupied except for a coat. On the table in front of it is a can of energy drink with another empty one scrunched next to it. You notice the ‘occupied’ light for the toilet is on.

6. A seat in a group of 4, the other seats are occupied by young women who are clearly travelling together. The table between the seats is covered in magazines and make up.

Following this the children had a discussion about why they made their decision and were encouraged to think beyond their first impressions of each passenger.