Pupils transform classroom to 1950s rock 'n roll era

ELVIS Presley, Buddy Holly and a host of Pink Ladies clawed their way out of the 1950s this week as pupils from a city school brought the bunny hop era back to life.

Youngsters from Thanet Primary School all dressed as characters from the 1950s as part of a school topic on the decade which brought the world rock and roll.

The topic – "How was life in the fun-filled 50s?" – saw youngsters learn about what it was like to be a school pupil at that time, how families took holidays and how people dressed.

Julie Shortman, a Year 4 teacher at the school as well as assistant head, said: "It is all about trying to get the children excited about the topic as early as they can.

"They absolutely loved the whole thing.

"In the morning, we turned the room into a 1950s classroom with all the tables in rows facing the front.

"I called them all by their surnames to make it realistic."

The children then experienced a taste of the 1950s when their classroom was transformed into an American diner.

"We set the room up as a diner and the children had hot dogs and milkshakes," said Mrs Shortman. "It was wonderful.

"They said they wished they could do it again and it had been the best day.

"They learned so much about the 1950s, and it makes them really enjoy what they are doing by having these 'Wow' days.

"They are so excited about what they are learning, they learn so much more and even go home and learn extra."

There were mini Elvis Presleys on the day, a Buddy Holly, Pink Ladies from Grease and rock'n'roll dancers.

In total, two year four classes at the school in Tedworth Road, east Hull, took part, with 55 children getting into the 1950s spirit.

Mrs Shortman said: "The children made a fantastic effort in dressing up and they really loved it.

"It just gives them so much more energy with what they are doing and they absolutely loved the dancing."

Alfie Keeping, 9, was dressed as Danny Zuko from the film Grease.

He said: "We did some dancing and we got to have some hot dogs and milk shakes.

"In the morning, we made the classroom one table for two people to sit at and Miss didn't use our first names, she called us by our surnames.

"Then in the afternoon, we did some hand jiving and rock'n'roll dancing.

"I showed my mum what we did with the hand jiving when I got home.

"I was dressed as Danny Zuko and had on a leather jacket, a T-shirt and some sideburns drawn on.

"It was really good."

Michaela Horseley, 8, said: "I was dressed as a Pink Lady.

"My mum chose me a pink dress and some black leggings and a black cardigan.

"We separated the tables and sat on them in twos and Miss said our surnames first in registration.

"It was a lot different to how we do it now.

"In the morning, we learned our two times tables right up to our ten times tables and we had to do it in silence.

"It was easy to do it in silence.

"Then after lunch, we had hot dogs and watched Happy Days and did some rock'n'roll dancing.

"My favourite was the rock'n'roll.

"It was tiring. I went home and showed my mum."

Other topics the school has covered include 'Why can't we only eat chocolate?'

During the topic, children learned about healthy eating as well as finding out about how chocolate was made and where it comes from.

Pupils have also done "Why is the Humber Bridge so special?" "Is space the final frontier?" and "What is it like to be a child during the war in Hull?"