The Impact of War

Curriculum Information

• Subject: History
• Key Stage: 3 (Year 9)
• Curriculum Area: World War II – Impact on Britain
• National Curriculum Link: The study of challenges for Britain, Europe, and the wider world from 1901 to the present day

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand the impact of World War II on British civilians.
2. Explore key aspects such as The Blitz, evacuation, and rationing.
3. Engage in critical thinking to assess the experiences of different people during the war.
4. Develop historical empathy through role-play and discussion.

Resources Needed

• Printed primary source materials (evacuation letters, ration book excerpts)
• Projector and presentation slides with images from the period
• Pre-prepared identity cards for role-play
• Small bags of sweets or mock ration coupons for activity

Lesson Outline (60 Minutes)

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – The Air Raid Experience

1. Scenario Presentation: Dim the lights and play a brief audio clip of an air raid siren followed by distant bomb explosions.
2. Think-Pair-Share: Ask students:
   • "If you were a child in London during World War II, how do you think you would feel hearing this?"
   • "Where might you go for safety?"
3. Collect a few responses and introduce today’s topic: The impact of World War II on British civilians.

Main Lesson (35 minutes)

The Blitz (10 minutes)

• Show wartime images of London during The Blitz and briefly discuss the damage caused.
• Read a short extract of a survivor’s account.
• Quickfire Questioning: "What were the dangers of The Blitz? How did the government try to protect people?"

Evacuation Role-Play (15 minutes)

• Preparation: Each student receives an "evacuee identity card" detailing their age, where they're from, and whether they are excited or nervous.
• Activity: In pairs, one plays the role of an evacuee, the other an "interviewer" (teacher circulates to listen).
• After 5 minutes, swap roles and reflect together—how might an evacuee feel leaving home?

Rationing Challenge (10 minutes)

• Introduction: Show a sample ration book and explain rationing.
• Activity: Place a small number of sweets (or mock ration coupons) on each table. Ask:
  • "How would you divide these between a family for a whole week?"
  • "What would you do if you ran out of food?"
• Discuss the impact of food shortages on daily life.

Plenary (15 minutes) – Diary Extract Reflection

• Students write a short diary entry as either:
  1. A child living in London during The Blitz.
  2. An evacuee experiencing life in the countryside for the first time.
  3. A mother trying to manage rationing and feeding her family during the war.
• Volunteers read out extracts, and the class discusses historical accuracy and emotions portrayed.

---

Assessment & Differentiation

• Formative Assessment:
  • Verbal responses during questioning.
  • Engagement in role-play activities.
  • Quality of diary extract for historical accuracy.
• Differentiation:
  • Higher ability: Challenge students to consider wider implications (e.g., the emotional impact of separation).
  • Lower ability: Provide useful sentence starters for the diary entry.

Homework Recommendation

• Research a real British evacuee’s story and write a paragraph summarising their experience.

Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged in interactive activities?
• Did they demonstrate empathy and understanding?
• How well did they use evidence in their diary extracts?

This lesson is designed to be immersive, engaging, and historically rich, leaving students with a deeper emotional connection to the realities of war.