Teachers’ Notes – Preparing for the VC session
1. Before the VC session
This session will focus on object handling with the children. It will introduce the children to a family who would have lived in Lancaster during the second world war. The children will be provided with a group of objects, which they will match to a specific character (further details regarding the content of the session can be found in thenextsection).This is not an introduction to the topic therefore the children will need to have some background knowledge about this period of history.
Ideally this session should take place as this topic is introduced to the children. This will provide them with the background information to the period of time, which the children will be studying.
If you have a CLEO broadband connection in school, you will also have free access to the British Pathe News archive collection of film and still images. These images will help the children to see what life would have been like for children and their families during this period of time.
If you have a CLEO broadband connection click on the link below to go straight to the British Pathe links.
Selection of Archive film and still images available on the British Pathe News website
Need help using the British Pathe website?
If you want to find out more about how to use the British Pathe visit the website.
Downloading film from the British Pathe website
Project Box
Before the session takes place a project box will arrive in school. This will contain four packs of objects and photographs which will be used with the children on the VC session.
Please do not show these to the children before the VC session takes place. The box must only be opened at the time of the VC session.
2. The VC session on the day
You will need to download some worksheets for the children to complete during this session. These are available in this section.
The session will last for about thirty minutes. For information and guidance about preparing and setting up your VC session, please see the 'Preparing for VC ' section of this website.
This will provide hints and tips on seating the children, lighting in the classroom etc. It will also remind you to make a test call to your presenter at least half an hour before the session takes place
Remember It is always useful to have a lesson prepared for the children just in case there is a problem with the technology on the day!
Content of this session
The children will need to be divided into four groups and seated around a table (approx. eight children in each group).It would be useful for the children to be arranged in mixed ability groups.
One pack of objects should be placed on each table. Please keep all the objects with the correct pack.
Objectives
This session aims to introduce the children to a family living in Lancaster, Lancashireduring the second world war.The children will discover (through handling objects), which member of the family the objectswould have belonged to.
The pack of objects will also containfive photographs. The children will be asked to link their objects to a member of the family.
The session will begin with the presenter talking to the children about object handling and reminding them how to look after the objects in the pack.
The teacher will need to place the objects for each group carefully on each table
The presenter will talk to the children about handling the objects carefully and about looking for clues and information from the objects.
Activity 1
Teacher puts the objects out on the desk first.
The presentertalks through 'handling the objects safely' with the children
The teacher will then be asked to give out the ‘What is it?’ sheet (seebelow to down load these, have them ready before the session starts). The presenter will ask the children to look for clues in the objects to find out what they are and what they do.
The teacher will need to give out the 'What is it sheet' to the children.
The children will needto work in pairs on each table (4 objects) on each table each pair to be given an object off the table. The children will need to handle the object, and answer the questions on the 'What is it' sheet. (The children will only need to write notes on the sheets).
One pair from each group (teacher to choose the pair) feed back to the presenter. The children carefully hold up their object and tellthe presenterwhat they think their object is used for.
The presenter then asks each pair (in turn) from each table, to hold up their object. The presenterwill then tell the children what each object is used for.
Activity 2
The teacher will needto give out the Whose is it? sheet (seebelow to download this sheet). Each table will be given a pack of 5 photographs (each member of the family) the photographsshould beplaced in the centre of each table. Each photograph has the name of the family member underneath.
Each table will have the objects belonging to one of the characters. As a group the children need to decide who the objects belong to. Using the objects as clues the children need to decide who they think their objects belong to. (You can down load the photographs at the end of this section).
The teacher will then select one person from each group to feedback to the presenter. The child has to show the presenter the photograph of who they think their objects belong to and why they think they belong to that person.The presenter will fill inany missing clues, which the children may have missed.
The presenter will askthe children to find the photograph of the one person they have not found out anything about (the land army girl). The presenter will give the children the password to the discover e-box and the children will research who they think this person is after the session has taken place.
At the end of the session, the air raid siren will sound as the presenter leaves the children with the password to the discover e-box on the website.
The Characters
4 different family members
Mother- working in a factory
Father – Works in an aircraft factory, also in reserved occupation
Oldest son- away fighting with Kings own regiment
2 evacuees living with the family
1 young child evacuated to Lancaster from Salford
1 teenage girl working in the land army
One of the above characters will not have a pack of object (teenage girl in the land army). The children will need to discover that there are no objects relating to her.
The children will need to find out more information about the 'land army' in the discover e-box after the VC session has taken place.
Mother- Elizabeth /Father – Albert /
Son – Bernard /
Evacuee - Margaret /
Pearl, A teenage evacuee working in the land army /
The object packs
Dad – reserved occupation
I.D.card
Warden hat
Civilian gas mask
Arm band
stirrup pump
Newspaper
Motor ration book
Mum
I.D. card
Clothing ration book
Food ration book
Head scarf
Handbag
Billet papers
Photo
postcard
Son (soldier)
Knapsack
Service gas mask
buttons
Cap badge
Child- evacuee
Suitcase
Games
Gasmask
Piece of a bomb
Clothes
I.D.card