Context Lesson 2 in a series of 10 Preparations for War
Learning Objectives (N.C. statement)
Children should learn
§ about how World War Two initially changed the lives of people, especially children, living in and around Bedford.§ the experiences and feelings of local people affected by preparations for war
National Curriculum Level 2, 3 & 4
Organisation IWB; ICT suite for individual work; whole class and individual or paired work
Learning styles (VAK) Kinesthetic Interactive online activities Visual IWB screens Auditory Sound bites, listening to peers’ reasons and presenting back to each other
Outline of Lesson
Introduction: Class Presentation online (IWB)
Screen 1 is a photo of the current day junction between Midland Road and Ford End Road in Bedford. Ask pupils to come forward and roll the mouse over the photo to find the four highlighted spots and to say what each enlargement shows (people going to work or shopping; large, bright street lights; directional signs; bill boards showing advertisements with cars in foreground).
Ask pupils to compare this photo with screen 2 showing the same scene on 23 July 1942, the day of a bombing raid on this area. The six highlighted areas lead to enlargements which ask questions. Tell the children that they are going to work through activities on the web site to help them answer the questions. (Answers: white lines are to help vehicles see in the blackout; man in uniform is an Air Raid Precautions Warden; people are on the move following an air raid; the small box that should be carried is a gas mask; the special booklet is a ration book; the building has been damaged during an air raid).
Main Thrust: Children’s Activity online
Children need to access Children’s Activities home page for Lesson 2 on their computers. Match children’s abilities with the tasks (Activity 3 is shorter). Children may cover more than one activity. In pairs children work their way through one or more of the activities on air raids, gas precautions and black out, exploring different aspects of preparations for war. Children will need paper to write notes. Activity 2 on Gas Attack can be printed once the children have completed the activity.
Plenary: offline
Children report back what they have found out and raise any questions they have.Key questions
How were children’s lives different to ours in 1939?
How were their lives affected by the war?Subject Specific Vocabulary
Gas mask, blackout, air raid
Resources IWB; ICT suite – pupils need to access Children’s Activities Lesson 2 home page, printers; paper for Children’s Activities; Resources in Lesson 2 Bedford in Wartime
Cross Curricular links PSHE & Citizenship, ICT, Speaking & Listening, Literacy
I.C.T. Use of IWB and individual computer work© Bedford Borough Council www.museumeducation.bedford.gov.uk