The Collingwood Football Club has introduced a new program today called Magpie Minds: Learning Side by Side, which is a free tool for schools and teachers throughout Australia.
Working together with Cool.org, this program brings lessons about standing up together and fighting against racism right into classrooms for kids from Grade 3 to Year 10.
The Magpie Minds materials give students and teachers a great chance to hear real stories, making sure that the thoughts and experiences of community members are shared and valued. This helps everyone learn more about why social change and equality in sports are important.
The free program offers eight lessons for younger students in primary school and 12 lessons for older students in secondary school.
Each lesson includes different voices, like Collingwood legend and current Cultural Development Manager Leon Davis, AFL Captain Darcy Moore, and AFL players Isaac Quaynor and Tew Jiath, along with AFLW players Sabrina Frederick, Nell Morris-Dalton, Kalinda Howarth, and Mattea Breed.
DETAILS | You can find out more about the Magpie Minds resources here.
Leon Davis mentioned that Magpie Minds aims to use education to create cultural change in classrooms all over Australia.
“Magpie Minds is about more than just learning; it’s about making classrooms and communities where everyone feels safe, respected, and appreciated,” Davis explained.
“This project shows how Collingwood Football Club is committed to being leaders in this area, always learning and connecting with the community to help the next generation become leaders and bring about change in Australia.
The Club’s path involves listening, learning, and developing the ‘Collingwood way’ to fight against racism, comprehend the importance of standing together, and highlight the voices and experiences of underrepresented groups in sports, such as First Nations, LGBTQIA+, and migrant communities.
“As a Club, we recognize that true cultural change requires time, commitment, and hard work. ”
About Cool.Org
Started in 2008, Cool.org is a non-profit organization that offers free materials to schools around Australia, helping students learn about environmental and social issues affecting society.
Through its various programs, Cool.org teaches about 2.5 million students each year, and over 2.5 million lessons have been downloaded by teachers across the nation.
Schools and teachers can access Magpie Minds for free on the Cool.org website.
