There is a range of activities planned for pupils from St Martin’s Primary School to remember why Liberation Day is the most important day in Guernsey’s calendar and commemorates the island’s freedom from the German Occupation during the Second World War.
As part of their history lessons, there is a fantastic history project under way to explore and compare the similarities and differences surrounding Guernsey’s Liberation Day across eight decades, using artefacts which include extracts from the Guernsey Press, cavalcade programmes, commemorative coins, oral interviews and photographs.
Pupils will be tasked with investigating not only the historical facts but also the emotional and social impact that this day holds for the people of Guernsey. The project encourages pupils to consider various aspects of the commemorations, including how the day is celebrated now and what the Liberation meant for families who lived through the war.
It is planned to be more than just a history lesson – it is an opportunity for pupils to explore the importance of cultural heritage and historical memory.
We are still looking for more photographs of the cavalcade, souvenir brochures, historic cavalcade coins, newspapers from Liberation Day throughout the decades for our history lessons.
Do you have any of the items listed? If you can help, please contact Nicola Barton at St Martin’s Primary School or email nicola.barton@education.gg.
The project is just one element and the school has many other things planned. These include – but are not limited to – bringing history to life with a ‘street party style’ Liberation lunch celebration for all pupils, school staff and some of the parish community, and singing and dancing with music from the era, along with renditions of Sarnia Cherie and lots more.
These engaging projects will teach children that history is not just about dates and events but about the rights of people, and the shared experiences that bind communities together.
Nicola Barton, teacher
St Martin’s Primary School
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