School Workshops
Black History Month – The Diversity of Science
Celebrating the achievements of some Black scientists and inventors, all of whom should be far more widely known than they are.
Introduction
From agricultural innovations to life-saving inventions to sending humans to the moon, Black scientists have, over the centuries, helped to shape the world around us (and they they still do, of course). But as their stories aren’t always properly told in the history books, The Diversity of Science sets out to celebrate the achievements, often in very challenging situations of a wide range of astonishing Black scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians!
| Year Groups | EYFS-Y6 |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | Poetry |
| Duration | Multiple workshops over one day |
| Space | Large space required eg hall or drama studio. |
Workshop Testimonials
“All the feedback from the teachers and pupils -across illustrated a very enjoyed day. Joe’s ability to think on the spot and deliver to a variety of needs and age groups! This is a very much a workshop and experience we would like to introduce to King’s Court on an annual basis. Thank you very much!”
“The whole school has thoroughly enjoyed having you here today and it’s been great to hear all the pupils talking so animatedly about your workshops and the poems they created.”
“The girls at Glendower LOVED the workshops! – they enjoyed the workshops immensely and thought the facilitator was fantastic! – they gained confidence around poetry, in addition to understanding the freedom attached to the concept of creating their own poem. We can’t wait to have you back!”
“Thomas Buxton really enjoyed celebrating National Poetry day this year. Thank you to who came in to help us write and perform our own poems about the environment. We love poetry! “
“I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your incredible delivery of National Poetry Day workshops. Your passion for poetry was clear, and every single one of the teachers spoke highly of you and your sessions. Similarly, the children were buzzing with excitement- I have received messages from parents about pupils’ enjoyment as well. It was a great day, and I look forward to your next visit.”
The Diversity of Science:
Primary Schools
A day starts with an opening assembly exploring the extraordinary achievements of Mary Seacole. This is followed by a series of workshops, for a year group at a time (apart from EYFS, where we prefer to work with each class separately). These use immersive techniques (including games and drama-based approaches) to introduce children to their selected individual – all linked to a science strand that the children will be exploring at some point during the school year – and culminate in collaborative poems. The individuals are …
The Diversity of Science can accommodate the whole of up to a two-form entry school in a single day.
We will send you designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems.
EYFS: Dr Frederick Akbar Mohamed … one of the UK’d first non-white consultants, a man whose work on blood pressure is still saving lives today!
Year 1: Lyda Newman … a Black American woman who used her understanding of materials to invent the first modern hairbrush!.
Year 2: Jagadish Chandra Bose … Indian scientist who made important discoveries about ways in which plants respond to their environments.
Year 3: Sarah Goode … a Black American woman who overcame all the odds to both open her own furniture store and use the science of forces to invest the first reliable fold-up bed.
Year 4: Ibn al Haytham … a scholar from the Golden Age of Islam who was the first to understand the properties of light – and who created the first pinhole camera outside China.
Year 5: Katherine Johnson … a brilliant mathematician who worked in the shadows to endure that Neil Armstrong got to the moon (and that the ill-fated Apollo 13 astronauts made it back to Earth).
Year 6: John Edmonstone … a man who, born into slavery, went on to find fame and influence in Scotland – and who set Charles Dickens on the road to formulating his theory of evolution.
Each school booking a day of workshops will receive our beautifully designed Fact Files on each of the seven individuals – and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems.
The Diversity of Science:
Secondary Schools
This unique programme acts as a timely reminder to us all that the world would be a very different (and much poorer) place without the achievements, often in very challenging situations of a wide range of astonishing Black scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Individual workshops can accommodate up to 60 students at a time, in sessions lasting from a single lesson upwards – potentially allowing a member of our team to work with a large number of students in a single day.
Workshops begin by introducing students to five Black people who have made important and enduring contributions to STEM …
John Edmonstone – a man who, though born into slavery, became an important part of Edinburgh’s community and who literally went on to change the world.
Jagadish Chandra Bose – an Indian scientist who transformed our understanding of the ways plants respond and adapt to their environments.
Katherine Johnson – one of the best mathematicians the world has ever known and who used her skills to get humans to the moon (and safely back to Earth again)
Charles Richard Dawes – who qualified as a doctor despite appalling racism and whose pioneering work with blood plasma still saves countless lives each year.
Lyda Newman – an ordinary woman from an ordinary background who went on to invent something we still all use today.
Each group will choose one individual – and explore them further through drama-based activities, before being guided through a process culminating in the crafting of unique, collaborative poems! Longer sessions, of course, can also see students being supported in writing and presenting their own poems.
Participating schools will receive designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems.
Workshop FAQs
What is the format of the day?
We will work with you to plan a timetable for the workshops, to suit the number of classes you would like to include – and around the specific timings of your school day. In a two-form entry primary school (with all year groups apart from Reception taking part in groups of up-to 60), the timetable might look like this:
09.00 – 09.20: (optional) Whole-school assembly, where your visitor will introduce the day…
09.20 – 10.00: Year 1 stay in the hall for their workshop …
10.00 – 10.40: Year 2 come to the hall for their workshop …
10.40 – 11.20: Year 3 come to the hall for their workshop …
11.20 – 11.50: One Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
LUNCH
1.00 – 1.30: The other Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
1.30 – 2.10: Year 4 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.10 – 2.50: Year 5 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.50 – 3.30: Year 6 come to the hall for their workshop.
What kind of space is required?
For groups of over 30, a large open space such as the school hall is required.
Are there any technical requirements?
Your visitor will need access to a laptop/ screen/projector set up in the school hall, so that pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint.
Related Poetry Workshops
Black History Month 2026 – Honouring our Communities
Linking to the theme of “Honouring our Communities” this programme celebrates, through poetry, the lives and achievements of some Black trailblazers who have made life better for everyone in the UK!
World Poetry Day – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Celebrate the lives and achievements of some amazing British writers from diverse backgrounds.
The Best of British Women in STEM
A drama-based workshop bringing to life the achievements of British women who have pushed the boundaries of science.