6 Oct 2005 - The Second World War
Older children are studying the Second World War. Much of their work is being done at home, so here are some extra notes and ideas, for pupils and parents.
Using the internet is great source of information and ideas. Probably the best site is the BBC site linked from our Web Sites page (see below for details)
The Second World War: Finding Out More
Real sources of information can be found all over the place:
Local buildings, war memorials, at the local library, record office and museum and even in our school itself.
For example, one of the best sources for finding out about wartime evacuation is old school registers and log books. They can tell us how many evacuees entered country schools, how long they stayed for and how often they actually went to school. We have our own published history, School Heritage, which includes log book entries and the memories of two wartime pupils, one local and one evacuee.
Families usually keep lots of records and objects from the past. Even the most ordinary things contain a lot of information. Why not ask
Near here there is a good museum at Cobberton and further afield at Flambards in Cornwall.
Further Information:
Your local library and museum
Websites can provide loads of information. The best for children is probably:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml
This excellent BBC site provides plenty of stimulating activities ideal for top primary age.
The Zig Zag: Children of World War 2 website has been designed for children and their families and friends to use together in finding out more about the lives of children during the war years. The questions here are as starting points for talking.
Other sites:
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ:
http://www.iwm.org.uk
National Inventory of War Memorials:
(c/o Imperial War Museum - see above for contact details)
English Heritage:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/studying/index.asp
Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
http://www.cwgc.org/
BBC History kids page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/index.shtml
Two primary schools' very own websites on the 2nd World War:
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/nettsch/time/war.html
http://www.sol.co.uk/s/StThomas/second_world_war.htm
More information about the blitz:
http://www.battleofbritain.net/section-6/blitz-index.html
Notes for Parents and Families
Using your own home
Beginning with something familiar helps everyone to learn. Homes reveal a lot about the people who live there. Visit A Wartime Home http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml ) to explore a wartime house - its rooms and contents. Moving the mouse across the screen will reveal more information about certain items.
Look around your own home. What would an historian of the future be able to find out about you and your family, just by looking around your home? What would they find out about your likes and dislikes, your habits and hobbies?
Finding out more
Grandparents or older relatives or friends might enjoy looking at this too - they might have stories of their own to share. Sometimes an image can release fascinating, hidden memories. They might even have photographs, letters or their old ration books to show you. Select Rationing Challenge http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml to find out more about how ration books were used.
What foods were not available at all during the Second World War? Explore your kitchen - how many of the foods and appliances in there would have been available then?
A lot of young children were evacuated from cities to the countryside during the Second World War. Were any of your family or friends evacuated?
Read real Evacuees' Letters http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml to find out more. Why did evacuees write so many letters?
If it happened today, would you send letters to each other? What other ways would you use to keep in touch these days?
Finding more sources
Sources of the Second World War are all around us. Look out for war memorials and plaques which will tell you about the local people who fought and died in both the world wars.
Post-war houses in the middle of a row of older houses often indicates a 'bomb hole', where a bomb destroyed one or more houses that have now been built over.
Low-lying sheds at the bottom of the garden might be an Anderson Shelter or other bomb shelter.
Concrete pillboxes along the coast and roads in the country can still be seen today - they were built as part of Second World War defences.
Go to your local library: they will have books and documents which can tell you what happened to your area during the war. They will have photographs of the area during the war, or local history booklets for you to use. Compare the wartime photographs with how the area looks today to spot the differences and similarities.
Using the internet is great source of information and ideas. Probably the best site is the BBC site linked from our Web Sites page (see below for details)
The Second World War: Finding Out More
Real sources of information can be found all over the place:
Local buildings, war memorials, at the local library, record office and museum and even in our school itself.
For example, one of the best sources for finding out about wartime evacuation is old school registers and log books. They can tell us how many evacuees entered country schools, how long they stayed for and how often they actually went to school. We have our own published history, School Heritage, which includes log book entries and the memories of two wartime pupils, one local and one evacuee.
Families usually keep lots of records and objects from the past. Even the most ordinary things contain a lot of information. Why not ask
Near here there is a good museum at Cobberton and further afield at Flambards in Cornwall.
Further Information:
Your local library and museum
Websites can provide loads of information. The best for children is probably:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml
This excellent BBC site provides plenty of stimulating activities ideal for top primary age.
The Zig Zag: Children of World War 2 website has been designed for children and their families and friends to use together in finding out more about the lives of children during the war years. The questions here are as starting points for talking.
Other sites:
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ:
http://www.iwm.org.uk
National Inventory of War Memorials:
(c/o Imperial War Museum - see above for contact details)
English Heritage:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education/studying/index.asp
Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
http://www.cwgc.org/
BBC History kids page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/index.shtml
Two primary schools' very own websites on the 2nd World War:
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/nettsch/time/war.html
http://www.sol.co.uk/s/StThomas/second_world_war.htm
More information about the blitz:
http://www.battleofbritain.net/section-6/blitz-index.html
Notes for Parents and Families
Using your own home
Beginning with something familiar helps everyone to learn. Homes reveal a lot about the people who live there. Visit A Wartime Home http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml ) to explore a wartime house - its rooms and contents. Moving the mouse across the screen will reveal more information about certain items.
Look around your own home. What would an historian of the future be able to find out about you and your family, just by looking around your home? What would they find out about your likes and dislikes, your habits and hobbies?
Finding out more
Grandparents or older relatives or friends might enjoy looking at this too - they might have stories of their own to share. Sometimes an image can release fascinating, hidden memories. They might even have photographs, letters or their old ration books to show you. Select Rationing Challenge http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml to find out more about how ration books were used.
What foods were not available at all during the Second World War? Explore your kitchen - how many of the foods and appliances in there would have been available then?
A lot of young children were evacuated from cities to the countryside during the Second World War. Were any of your family or friends evacuated?
Read real Evacuees' Letters http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/home.shtml to find out more. Why did evacuees write so many letters?
If it happened today, would you send letters to each other? What other ways would you use to keep in touch these days?
Finding more sources
Sources of the Second World War are all around us. Look out for war memorials and plaques which will tell you about the local people who fought and died in both the world wars.
Post-war houses in the middle of a row of older houses often indicates a 'bomb hole', where a bomb destroyed one or more houses that have now been built over.
Low-lying sheds at the bottom of the garden might be an Anderson Shelter or other bomb shelter.
Concrete pillboxes along the coast and roads in the country can still be seen today - they were built as part of Second World War defences.
Go to your local library: they will have books and documents which can tell you what happened to your area during the war. They will have photographs of the area during the war, or local history booklets for you to use. Compare the wartime photographs with how the area looks today to spot the differences and similarities.