Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month

Resources for Schools

Information, presentations and files that teachers will find useful in assemblies and classes. These files have been prepared and compiled by Peter Norton on behalf of the Inner London Traveller Education Consortium.

Use the download links on the right or below to download the files you want.

A similar list of resourses is available at www.traved.org.uk. This page has the Assembly Files and Clips as here, but also has recordings of some radio programmes, booklists for Adults and Children, posters, film clips and many general resources for use in the classroom all year round and not just during GRTHM.

‘Welcome to GRT History Month’

Download [612kb]

This is a pdf of an article that appeared in the Teacher magazine

Assemblies

In these folders there are seven Powerpoint assemblies, one about each of the main Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups. The format is generally the same for each assembly Power Point, with about 6 slides, with teacher notes on each slide.

Individual Assemblies

Bargee [1.1mb]
Circus [314kb]
Frog and the Stranger [7.1mb]
Gypsy [24.7mb]
Irish Travellers [41.4mb]
Jess Smith [11.9mb]
New Travellers [545kb]
Roma [105.8]
Showmen [24.7mb]

In each folder there is a file with the script to accompany the assembly powerpoint. Print the pdf file called ‘…script’ if this will help you.

The assemblies end mainly with some traditional music from the community, and this could also be a time for the period of reflection as the music is being played. To play the music, click on the ‘speaker’ symbol. To stop the music, click away from the ‘speaker’ symbol.The assemblies start with the same first page of notes. The three ethnic groups, Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers have several common themes, traditions and culture.

The assemblies were designed with the KS1 and KS2 audience, although some may be suitable for secondary students. Assemblies could be used as appropriate, class, year group school etc. Each assembly should last for about 20 minutes.

There is also a story called Dragonory, by Gypsy story teller Jess Smith, and a file called Frog and the stranger, here there is a resource list of books with themes that have overtures to some Gypsy, Roma and Traveller issues.

Clips

Download [75mb]

The movie clips are about a range of the communities. PC users, try using the .wmv file, whereas if you are using an Apple Macintosh computer, use the .mov files.

Display

Download [107mb]

There are a range of resources that can be printed out and used amongst other things, to make a display for the GRT History Month. Resources are included for both Primary and Secondary.

Guidebook for Teachers and other professionals

Download [4.5mb]

The pdf of the complete booklet produced by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, as a guidebook for professionals working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. A great source of information.

Lists

Download [38mb]

A link to a list of famous Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. The pdf of the London Gypsy Traveller and Roma Film festival, with interesting information on a wide range of related films. A recommended reading list, including child friendly resources, interactive links to a very wide range of websites. There is the Trentham Books list, and an interactive You Tube list with links to an exciting visual collection of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller music and so on. There is also a file called reports, this has pdfs of all GRT related reports published in the last 7 years.

Recipes

Download [4.9mb]

A number of interesting traditional recipes from the Gypsy, Irish Traveller, Bargee and Roma community. This could be a starting point for food related areas.

Rights

Download [764kb]

More appropriate for secondary students, several challenging articles about GRT.

Romani Language

Download worksheets [from this site 670kb]

Download files [from Manchester University site]

The complete Manchester University interactive CD about the history, usage and dialects of Romani, with accompanying worksheets. There is a choice of 18 languages or one full ISO image that can be burned to a DVD.

There is a file called Romani Language Words & Phrases1, this is an m4a file and will only open if you have iTunes installed on your Mac or PC. It is a podcast.

The Travelling People

Download [7.4mb]

There is the pdf of the ‘Travelling People’ Book (Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets TES’s), and the Travelling People KS2 Literacy Work Activities Pack (Newham and Waltham Forest TES’s). There is also the pdf of the complete book, ‘Moving Pasts’, from Newham TES), featuring two autobiographies from an English Romany Gypsy and a Polish Roma.

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