The children enjoy a real hands-on experience of life on the Home Front, led by Mrs. Letten, the Billeting Officer. Taking roles themselves, as evacuees just arrived in the area - complete with suitcases, gasmask boxes and identity cards - they take part in a wide range of activities in ‘family’ groups.
Activities include:
Wartime Cookery, Writing Letters, Making Tea, Rag-rug Making, Dressing hair, Drawing original artefacts, and Washing up – all part of the War Effort! Most importantly, they learn how to manage rations, how to ‘make do and mend’ and what to do when there is an air raid. Community singing brings the day to an end. Please note that, for the children to get the most out of the experience, extra adults are needed for this activity day, to ‘host’ the family groups - for a class of about 30 children you will need five adults.
This day supports Unit 9 of QCA History Schemes of Work - Key stage 2
Find out more:
Feedback from teachers:
‘The children loved all the activities - both boys and girls - and commented that they had learnt lots…This brought the topic to life and will give a lasting impression…’
‘The ‘evacuation pack’ was informative and incorporated all the resources required for the day to be a success. (The day) tied in perfectly with the progression of our current scheme of work and was fantastic for the children to immerse themselves in the role of evacuees.’
‘It was lovely for the children to see and interact with authentic artefacts. (There was a) good range of activities…lots of visual and kinaesthetic activities…thank you, Alison.’
‘The activity day brings the children’s learning to life and helps them try to feel the experience. We would like you back next year.’
‘Excellent - as usual!’
‘There are memorable days in a child’s life and this is one of them.’
”Full immersion in a range of activities help children to understand what it was like to live during WW2. We’ll be using you in the future!’
‘Having read ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ … I thought it brought home a greater understanding to the children. We are now using photos (I took 78!) to help write recounts of the day (Y4 literacy).’
‘Please keep doing this. Your days are our history highlights.’
“I love this day. You see, this is how I remember it, when I was a child.” Margaret, a grandparent, who came in to school to help.
‘Brilliant. The children were very engaged and all really enjoyed the day. It was a very worthwhile day. Thank you.’
Feedback from children:
‘Everyone had a great day. We learnt a lot of new things, we never knew history could be fun…It will definitely be a day to remember and it will go in our school newspaper, it will surely be the review of the year.’
‘…Louis is very sorry he forgot his identity card, he is saying sorry just as we write this letter now. We hope you enjoyed it as much as us. It was fun as everybody else will say in their letters. Miles’ mum was very excited…she loved it and wants to come when you do it in 3 years time when his brother does it. Miles’ favourite activity was the tea making. Louis’ favourite activity was sketching (artefacts). It was very good and we all felt like we were really in WW2 and so you must have made a really good effort. ‘
‘…Robbie’s best bit was the salon because he got to feel waht it was like to have a 40’s hair style and he got to experience a shave. Henry’s best bit was doing the sktches because he got to see the WW2 stuff up close.’
‘We thoroughly enjoyed the day and learnt alot more about WW2…We think that the day was great and would be great for other schools.’ Jennie and Jenny.
‘The day was great. It was one of the bestest school days I have ever had.’