Equiano’s Story: Benin, British Empire and Belongings
Watch as ‘Olaudah Equiano’ tells his fascinating story. Children will handle a range of replica artefacts that show the significance of the culture of Benin and compare it to other great African Kingdoms. They will get investigate what was involved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. As groups, the students will investigate a range of sources to find out about some people linked to the Transatlantic slave trade and those who helped in different ways to end it. The workshop will encourage pupils to consider origins and legacies of the British Empire, links to local history and debate modern day issues such as the interpretation of museum artefacts. This highly interactive workshop gives pupils the chance to see how momentous events, that occurred at Gunnersbury Park House, had very far-reaching impacts.
Learning aim/objective – To research African Kingdoms, to investigate the British Empire’s involvement in the transatlantic save trade and campaigns of abolitionists, to investigate the different roles of owners of country house estates, including Gunnersbury Park House and to debate the place of objects held in museums.
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: £140 per workshop of up to 32 children
National Curriculum links
Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901
- Britain’s transatlantic slave trade: its effects and its eventual abolition
- The development of the British Empire with a depth study
Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day In addition to studying the Holocaust, this could include:
- End of Empire (in our workshop we look at the legacy of colonialism and possible relationship afterwards)
- Social, cultural and technological change in post-war British society (in our workshop there are themes of cultural repatriation)
- Britain’s place in the world since 1945 (in our workshop there are themes of how history and modern museums to reflect values and identity)
Local history study
- Depth study linked to one of the British areas of study listed above (our workshop looks at local history and Rothschild Family in particular)
- A study over time, testing how far sites in their locality reflect aspects of national history (egwe look at the Abolition Act and purchase of Suez)
Design and Technology
- Changes in technology and design (such as the lost wax technique in bronze/brass casting)
Art and Design
- Interpret images (eg looking at symbolism such as leopard figures)
English
- Spoken language and listening skills, increasing vocabulary esp via debate and working in groups.