Teaching Resources
Many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people feel that their culture and way of life is not recognised or affirmed within the education system.
We have created this page to support teachers and other staff in educational settings bring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller histories and cultures into the classroom. Below, you can find a range of resources, books and media to enrich your own understanding of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller histories and to share with young people.
You can find our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month resources here.
You can find resources related to Scottish Gypsy Traveller history at grthm.scot
Animation about tackling data exclusion of young Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and children
An animation co-created by Friends, Families and Travellers and London Schools of Economics outlining how Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are often missing from National Statistics and Government reports and how this affects education.
Comic: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils experiences of education
Using research findings from focus groups, Friends, Families and Travellers and London School of Economics have put together a comic on young people's experiences of school and college, and what can be done to improve it.
‘We are invisible!’ Ensuring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children do not feel unseen in the history classroom
Richard Kerridge and Helen Snelson present a brief sequence of lessons using the life of the Gypsy woman Mary Squires as a way into the changes of industrialising Britain. More significantly, they also present a compelling rationale for why history teachers should be slotting in the stories of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to broaden inclusive representation and challenge intolerance.
Read here.
Inclusion of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller histories in the school curriculum: A Webinar
In January 2021, we held an online webinar for policy makers, staff in educational settings and others on the Council of Europe recommendation that the history of Roma and/or Travellers is included in school curricula and teaching materials.
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller training for education settings
Norfolk County Council's Gypsy, Roma and Traveller service has put together bespoke training for schools, early years settings, higher education and other providers, aimed at whole staff, including administration, governors and teaching staff.
The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller service have also produced three Padlets to enhance the diversity of teaching and embed Gypsy, Roma and Traveller histories and cultures into the curriculum.
Download Showman and Circus Padlet here.
Download World War 2 Padlet here.
Tools and Information to help schools tackle Gypsy Roma and Traveller targeted Bullying
Produced by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and Friends, Families and Travellers, these resources highlight how teachers and schools can promote anti-bullying in their classrooms.
Crystal's Vardo Teachers Pack - KS2/KS3
Full of useful and interesting information about Gypsy Roma and Traveller histories and cultures. Also includes classroom activities. Can be used to accompany a live or online performance of Crystal’s Vardo.
The Gypsy Holocaust
General booklet with information about the Roma and Sinti Holocaust. Includes some classroom activities. This can be used to accompany the Crystal’s Vardo video or theatre production.
Crystal’s Vardo Activity Book
Fun activities pertinent to Gypsy Roma and Traveller cultures which include colouring in, join the dots, doodles, crosswords and much more.
Travellers Times - Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month resource
Fantastic resource produced by Travellers Times which includes ideas for lessons, an assembly script and culture pack for teachers.
Traveller Movement - KS2 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Resource Pack
A handy pack with a variety of resources to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month.
The 'Roma Stories' Oral History Project
This Roma Support Group project shares experiences and stories of Roma people from Eastern and Central Europe who live in London.
ACERT website and resources
The Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers (ACERT) website hosts a vast amount of resources for educators.
View the website and view ACERT's online documents.
Nazi persecution of Roma and Sinti people
Materials from The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on the genocide of Roma and Sinti people during World War 2.
Showfolk: An oral history of a fairground dynasty
Read this book for interviews with three generations of the Cordona family for a rich anecdotal insight into the long history and heritage of showfamilies.
GRTHM Scotland 2020
A digital archive of the GRTHM celebrations in Scotland in 2020 - lots of resources available as film, audio and written material.
Gypsy Traveller history in Scotland
A detailed illustrated timeline by artist and historian Shamus McPhee from before the 1100s to the modern day.
Till Doomsday in the afternoon: A Gypsy/Traveller perspective of the history, culture and traditions of the community in Scotland
A resource designed to enable practitioners to raise awareness and understanding of the history, culture and traditions of the Scottish Gypsy Traveller community.
Canal River Trust: Life on the English waterways
A resource pack for teachers to share information about life on the waterways through history.
Poster: How to be an ally to Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen and Boater communities
A group of students, staff and alumni from Northumbria University have put together an infographic on how to be an ally and raising awareness about the prejudices Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and nomadic communities face.
Do Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children see themselves in your history classroom? by the History Association
Richard Kerridge and Helen Snelson have worked with the historian Professor Becky Taylor to produce a range of teaching resources for teaching the history of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.
Made freely available here.
By Yorkclio here.
Unsettled by Rosaleen McDonagh
Essays by Rosaleen McDonagh, exploring racism, ableism, abuse and resistance as well as the bonds of community, family and friendship.
An ABC for Travellers
This colourful book can help young readers from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community written and produced by Maxine Lambert.
The Pavee and the Buffer Girl by Siobhan Dowd
This book tells the story of Jim, a young Traveller boy, his experiences at the Buffer school (Buffer is what Travellers call non-Travellers) and developing new friendships.
Find out more and purchase the book.
Books by Richard O'Neill
Author and playwright, Richard O'Neill has written a serious of illustrated books with fantastic representation of Gypsy and Traveller characters. Look out for Polonius and The Pit Pony, Yokki and The Porno Gry, The Lost Homework, The Can Caravan, and Ossiri and The Bala Mengro.
Purchase books by Richard O'Neill.
The Show Must Go On by Michelle Russell
Purchase this book to celebrate 'World Funfair Month 2021'. Follow Mary Ann and her travelling Showmen family as they defend their yard from developers. The generations work together to help everyone understand that Grandad Henry is right: ‘not all treasure glistens’.
Wee Bessie by David Pullar
Wee Bessie is Inspired by the childhood of Scottish Traveller Betsy Whyte one of Scotland's most celebrated storytellers.
Books by Janna Elliot
Settela Steinbach was a Dutch Sinti girl, she was murdered along with other members of her family in Auschwitz. Janna Eliot translator of the original biography, created the novel 'Settela's Last Road' for younger readers.
See all of Janna's books on Good Reads.
Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBhairduin
Why the moon travels is a haunting collection of twenty tales rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community.
Can't lose Cant
A book of Cant, the Old Language of Irish Travellers, by Children in Co Kildare Ireland.
Books by Robert Dawson
Robert Dawson has a wide selection of books and activity booklets on his website, including 'Leaves in the Holocaust', a novel about the persecution of Roma and Sinti people in World War Two.
View the Robert Dawson website.
Fairground Art: The art forms of Travelling Fairs, Carousels and Carnival Midways by Geoff Weedon and Richard Ward
The authors devoted years of research to photographing and cataloguing the work of fairground artists as well as investigating the histories of the craftsmen and their creations.
they lit fires: lenti hatch o yog Raine Geoghegan
Raine Geoghegan presents a selection of timeless and culturally rich songs and monologues based upon her Romani Roots.
Books by Maggie Smith-Bendell
Maggie's books, including 'Rabbit Stew and a Penny or Two' recount the 'old ways' and Romani Gypsy life and culture at the dawn of the 21st Century.
Books by Eva Petulengro
Eva Petulengro is a Romani author who spent her childhood in a caravan before settling in Brighton. Eva's books 'The Girl in the Painted Caravan' and 'Caravans and Wedding Bans', reflect on Eva's life on the road.
The Showmen's War by Michael Smith, Stephen Smith and Kevin Scrivens
This book was produced to accompany the Exhibition held at the Fairground Heritage Centre in 2018 to commemorate the part played in the Great War by the Travelling Showmen of Great Britain.
Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant
In the aftermath of World War One, Ben, Clara and Lotti try to rebuild their lives, As they make their way on an epic journey, some of which on a narrowboat, they search for loved ones and a place to call home.
Books by Jess Smith
Jess Smith comes from a long line of Travelling people and writes about her early years on the road in Scotland with her family.
The Stopping Places by Damian Le Bas
In this critically acclaimed book, Damian seeks to better understand his heritage by setting out on a journey to discover the stopping places – the old encampment sites known only to Travellers.
Gypsy Girl by Rosie McKinley
Rosie McKinley is an Irish Traveller, she grew up on the road moving around England and Ireland. Read her story of roaming fields and meadows with her siblings.
Muddy Waters by DH Clacher
A series of fun, vibrant and colourful books sharing Muddy's adventures on the UK Waterways.
Find out more about the books.
Books by Betsy Whyte
The Yellow on the Broom and Red Rowans and Wil Honey cover Betsy's childhood as a Gypsy Traveller in 1920s and 1930s Scotland, as well as traditional workmanship from hawking to, fruit and potato picking until the Second World War.
Find out more about the books.
Smoke in the Lanes by Dominic Reeve
The author’s account of living the Gypsy life on the road in the 1950s.
Gypsy Princess by Violet Cannon
The story of Violet's parents and her childhood.
A Different Kind of Freedom: A Romani Story by Richard O'Neill
Written by a Romani author, this story depicts the struggle between tradition and following your own passions.
Snowy by Berlie Doherty
An award-winning picture book about a family living in a narrowboat on the Chester canal, with Snowy the boat horse.
The Django by Levi Pinfold
A picture book about an imaginary friend, Django, inspired by the famous jazz musician Jean "Django" Reinhardt.
Books by Caroline Binch
Caroline Binch has written and illustrated a wide range of books, including Since Dad Left, which explores a boy's feelings around his parents' separation, as well as Road Horse, and Christy's Dream, which are both centered around young boys dreaming of having horses of their own.
Over the Hills and Far Away by Helen Mckay
A retelling which weaves together two classic fairy-tales, Red Riding Hood, and the nursery tale of Tom, Tom, the Piper's So.
Romany Johnny Joe by Hilda Brazil
Written by a Romany Gypsy, this story uses the toads and frogs of Toadville to teach children not to judge others.
Toffee and Pie by Pippa Goodhart
The story of a boy who lives in a trailer with his family and is always moving around, and a friendship he forms at a new school.
Hercules the Younger by Kathryn James
As part of the 'Reflect' series, Hercules the Younger is the tale of a boy who uses his strength, which was once a nuisance, to help his friends.
Nothing But Trouble by Alan MacDonald
A story about prejudice and friendship between a Traveller boy and the 'buddy' he is assigned at his new school.
The Dream Snatcher Trilogy by Abi Elphinstone
A trio of books following a Gypsy orphan, Moll Pecksniff, on a magic quest through the forest, when she wakes there after a recurring nightmare.
The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond
A story about a boy who runs away from home and joins a carnival.
Flight by Vanessa Harbour
Set in Austria 1945, this book follows characters in their journey to getting Lipizzanner stallions to safety, alongside an orphaned Roma girl.
The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
A gothic, feminist and romantic young adult debut about Lil and her twin sister Kizzy, who are captured and enslaved far away from their beloved traveller community.
Gypsy Girl Series by Kathryn James
This young adult series features the fictional character Sammy Jo and the love interests that land her in trouble.
My Name Is Rose by Sally Grindley
Through this children's fiction, Grindley explores what it's like for Rose, a Romani girl, to have to move to a different country, adapt to a new family, and grapple with her identity.
Where the World Turns Wild by Nicola Penfold
An ecological adventure in the form of children's fiction with Traveller characters.
Spokes: Stories from the Romani World by Janna Eliot
Based on real life accounts, these short stories feature British Gypsies, Irish Travellers, East European Roma; and people whose Romani background has remained under wraps.
Apple Water: Povel Panni by Riane Geoghegan
A small collection of poems and short prose based on Raine's Romany family.
A Short Animated History of Britain's Gypsies, Roma and Travellers,
An animated film produced by the Cork Traveller Women's Network.
Nazi Persecution of Roma and Sinti people
Europe’s Roma and Sinti people were targeted by the Nazis for total destruction.
Porjamos - The Gypsy Holocaust
This video, made by Brighton & Hove City Council, looks at the persecution of Roma and Sinti communities in during the Holocaust.
Showland by Mitch Miller
This short documentary gives you a 'behind the scenes' look at Fairground life.
A short film on International Romani Language Day from Romaversitas North Macedonia
A useful film describing the purpose and significance of International Roma Language Day, celebrated worldwide on 5th November.
