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Teaching Resources

The Songs and Poems of Banana Workers

This lesson plan is suitable for learners aged 11+ to develop their understanding of the lives of banana workers in a traditional context, and build learners’ understanding of where their food comes from and the work that goes in to producing it.

  • Students will have insights from Harry Belafonte, Nelson Mandela, Pete Seeger and Evan Jones, as they develop an understanding of the role of music and poetry in culture, identity and civil rights activism.
  • Using Jamaican songs and poems (which are also great to try in assemblies), students are invited explore the history of Banana workers, their identities, history and dialects.  As such, it is great for lessons in English and History (particularly Black History), as well as Geography.

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