LKS2 Topic: WW2: A Child’s Eye View from the Home Front Block A: WW2: How it began
Introduce the historic events that led to the outbreak of the Second World War. Place events on a timeline that will grow throughout the topic and build understanding of the chronology of the war. Look
at and experience through role play the early events of the war from a child’s perspective.
Block A: WW2: How it began[3 sessions] / Main Outcome: History
Other outcomes: Geography and English
By the end of this block you can expect the following outcomes: / · Develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British and World history.
· Address historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity, difference and significance.
· Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debate.
· Locate the world’s countries using maps to focus on Europe, concentrating on countries and major cities.
Session 1 History and Geography
Britain Declares war
Discover what was happening in Germany in the 1930’s and why this eventually led to war. Know which countries were involved locate them on a map of Europe. / Children will:
· Learn about the events that led up to Britain declaring war on Germany in 1939.
· Place significant events in a Timeline.
· Begin to learn the locations of countries in Europe and the part they played at the start of WW2.
Session 2 History and English
Gas Masks and Blackouts
Learn about the precautions put in place to keep people safe when war broke out including gas masks, blackouts and ARP wardens. / Children will:
· Make a gas mask box and discover why gas masks were needed.
· Experience a gas mask drill.
· Find out about blackouts and investigate the role of the ARP warden using drama.
Session 3 History
Bomb Shelters and The Blitz
Discover why people needed bomb shelters in WW2 and what it was like to experience an air raid during the Blitz. / Children will:
· Find out about bomb shelters and The Blitz.
· Role play an air raid in the classroom using sound effects, tables made into bomb shelters and the teacher in role.
· Make a cardboard Anderson shelter and design the inside to prepare for aid raids.
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Session 1 PowerPoint; Colour printouts of the blank dated maps (easy gp task sheet); Colour printouts of the reference map (session 1 resource) – one per ch or pair in easy group; Printout of the timeline (session 1 resource); Med/Hard task sheets (1 per child).
You will need: Coloured pencil crayons, pens.
Session 2
Provided: Session 2 PowerPoint; Net for producing gas mask case – copy this onto A3 card (1 per child); A printout of the drama notes with the scenarios cut into separate strips.
You will need: Large ball of string (you could pre-cut this into lengths and knot these into loops before the lesson to save time if desired – the loops should be long enough to hang just below the waist when placed around the neck); Scissors, glue sticks, masking tape; A large space, e.g. hall to move to for the drama phase of the lesson.
Session 3
Provided: Shelter template on card - 1 between 4 (Hamilton resource) – An A5 sized template of an Anderson shelter with door see slide 4 ; Printout of session 3 Timeline event – The Blitz; Session 3 PowerPoint.
You will need: Several large cloths, (e.g. sheets, old curtains) ideally large enough to cover groups of tables so that they hang down to the floor around the edges; Silver corrugated card (you could pre-spray brown card with silver paint) cut into A5 pieces – enough for 1 per child; A sheet of A4 card per child; Pencils; Pens; Coloured pencils.
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