Life During War

Overview

This is lesson 2 of 6 in the unit "World War II Explorers", aimed at Year 2 students (ages 6–7). The focus is on Life During the War: Understanding the Home Front. Pupils will explore how World War II affected everyday life for children and families in Britain, fostering empathy through age-appropriate stories, discussions, and activities.

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Curriculum Links

National Curriculum for England – History (Key Stage 1)

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Identify and describe significant historical events, people and places in their own locality (NC History 1.1)
  • Observe or handle evidence to ask questions and find answers to questions about the past (NC History 1.3)
  • Use stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events (NC History 1.4)
• Historical Skills:
  • Understand changes within living memory and recognise the impact on people's lives (NC History 1.5)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Describe some ways in which World War II changed daily life for children in Britain.
2. Understand how families were affected emotionally and practically during the war (e.g., evacuation, rationing).
3. Demonstrate empathy by relating to the experiences of children living through the war.

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Resources

• Picture book or illustrated story about WW2 children’s experiences (e.g., evacuation, rationing) - age-appropriate and simple language
• Selection of black-and-white photos of home front scenes (children in shelters, queues for rationing, gas masks)
• Paper and coloured pencils
• Timeline strip showing 1939-1945 with key events referenced visually

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Lesson Structure (30 minutes)

1. Introduction and Recap (5 minutes)

• Begin by recapping Lesson 1: “Who Were the World War II Explorers?” (Who were evacuees?)
• Show the timeline and briefly place the student in 1940s Britain during the war.
• Ask: “What do you think life was like for children during the war?”
• Encourage an initial prediction or personal connection to foster engagement.

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2. Story Time – A Child’s Story from the Home Front (10 minutes)

• Read aloud a short story or illustrated book portraying a child’s experience during WWII at home, e.g., evacuation from cities, wearing gas masks, dealing with rationing.
• Pause to ask comprehension questions:
  • How do you think this child felt when they left home?
  • What did they miss the most?
  • What did they have to do differently at home compared to now?
• Show relevant photos side-by-side while reading to build visual understanding and context.

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3. Empathy Exercise – “Walk in Their Shoes” Discussion (7 minutes)

• Use guided questioning to help the student imagine life during the war from a child’s perspective:
  • “If you had to leave your home and family for safety, how might that feel?”
  • “How would it feel to have less food or to wear a gas mask?”
• Encourage the student to share feelings or personal examples of changes or challenges.
• Record one or two key empathetic responses written by the student or scribed by the teacher.

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4. Creative Reflection – Draw and Write (5 minutes)

• Ask the student to draw a picture of a child living during WWII showing something they have learned (e.g., wearing a gas mask, queueing for food, in an air raid shelter).
• Help the student write one sentence describing their picture, using guided sentence starters like: “During the war children had to...” or “I think it was hard when...”

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5. Review and Assessment (3 minutes)

• Review the learning objectives with the student orally:
  • What did you learn today about life during the war?
  • Can you tell me one way children’s lives changed during WWII?
• Record brief notes of student responses for assessment evidence linked to NC History objectives (e.g., understanding of change, empathy for people in the past).

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Differentiation

• For a single student, personalise pace and questioning depth, allowing extended answers or prompts as needed.
• Use simple vocabulary and clear visuals.
• Provide extra time for drawing and writing if necessary to ensure confidence and engagement.

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WOW Factor Ideas for Teachers

• Create a small “time capsule” box for the student to fill with drawings or words about what children needed during WWII (e.g., gas mask replica photo).
• Incorporate a short sound clip of WWII air raid sirens or children’s songs from the 1940s to immerse the student audibly.
• Use a hands-on rationing activity in a future lesson to relate to today’s food choices and understand scarcity.

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Summary

This lesson builds historical knowledge and empathy by engaging Year 2 learners with personal stories and tangible examples of life on the home front during WWII. Aligned with the National Curriculum, it develops key history skills around understanding change, evidence, and significance—all in a compassionate and interactive manner.