This Fairtrade Fortnight Cockwood School children have taken part in various ‘Fairtrade Banana themed’ activities.
Class 3 learnt about where bananas come from and facts on bananas such as ‘Did you know a small bunch of bananas is actually called a hand?’
Class 2 watched a film from the Fairtrade Foundation’s website which charted how Fairtrade bananas are farmed and how they get from the farm to our supermarkets. Following on from this the children produced some fantastic banana poetry.
Class 1 used persuasive writing to draft letters to local supermarkets and even parliament asking them to get behind Fairtrade make sure all bananas sold in supermarkets are Fairtrade.
On Tuesday 4th March we had a visit from Steven best who is a banana farmer in St Lucia and Sue Errington and representative from the Fairtrade Foundation. It was fascinating for the children to see pictures of St Lucia and here about how the Fairtrade premium paid to the farmers helps to support and buy equipment for their schools, sports clubs and hospital. Without these vital funds life would be much more difficult them.
Throughout the Fortnight children were hunting for bananas and a cheeky monkey hiding around the school. And on Friday 7th March we held a special Fairtrade assembly where the school council made a presentation on their trip to the South West Fairtrade assembly in Bristol. Prizes were awarded to a child from each class for the best Fairtrade work and also to the winners of the banana hunt.
We finished off with a cake sale which raised over £80 which will be split between funds for our up and coming Fairtrade Community Café (watch this space) and Oxfam, the school council’s chosen charity for this year.
