VE Day Celebration

Overview

A dynamic and engaging 55-minute PSHE session for 11-year-olds (Year 6) focusing on Victory in Europe (VE) Day and the 80th anniversary celebrations. This lesson enhances understanding of historical events and their significance in promoting peace, resilience, and community spirit in the UK. Through a variety of interactive activities, students will connect history with modern values, encouraging empathy, respect, and citizenship.

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Curriculum Links

• PSHE Association Programme of Study (Key Stage 2):

  • Living in the wider world - 2D: The importance of rules and laws, human rights and responsibilities
  • Health and wellbeing - 2B: Recognising feelings and emotions, empathy, respect for others

• National Curriculum for History (KS2):

  • Understand the chronological narrative of significant historical events in Britain.
  • Develop empathy by understanding the experiences of people from the past.

• British Values Areas Covered:

  • Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect, and Tolerance.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, pupils will:

1. Understand the significance of VE Day and its place in British history.
2. Recognise the enduring values of peace, tolerance, and community celebrated on VE Day.
3. Demonstrate empathy for those who experienced WWII through creative reflection.
4. Collaborate in an engaging group activity to celebrate the 80th anniversary.

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Equipment & Materials

• Printed VE Day timeline cards
• Large UK map and Europe map for visual reference
• Art supplies: coloured paper, glue, scissors, markers, and bunting materials
• Projector/screen for multimedia snippets (images/audio of VE Day celebrations)
• A “Memory Jar” or box for reflections
• VE Day quiz sheets
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter: VE Day Quickfire Quiz (8 mins)

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and generate curiosity.

• Using quiz sheets with 8 mixed questions (multiple choice and true/false). Example questions:
  • “What year was VE Day?”
  • “Which countries were involved?”
  • “What does VE stand for?”
• Students work individually then compare answers in pairs. Quick feedback with key facts shared.

2. Historical Storytelling and Visualisation (12 mins)

Purpose: Develop chronological understanding and empathy.

• Teacher narrates an engaging story of a child who lived through WWII and experienced VE Day – emphasising feelings of hope and relief.
• Show images/videos of the original VE Day celebrations (crowds cheering, street parties).
• Display a timeline of key WWII events leading to VE Day along with maps pinpointing locations.
• Pupils jot down three words that capture emotions of people on VE Day.

3. Creative Collaborative Activity: Build a VE Day 80th Celebration Mural (20 mins)

Purpose: Promote teamwork, artistic expression, and reinforce key learning.

• Pupils divided into small groups (2-3) with each group given part of the mural theme:
  1. The End of War: People celebrating, VE Day symbols (poppies, flags).
  2. Community and Peace: Street parties, sharing food, music.
  3. Remember and Reflect: People who served, moments of silence, respect.
• Using art supplies, each group creates their section on large paper.
• Allow time for groups to explain their part and its meaning.

4. Reflection and “Memory Jar” Activity (10 mins)

Purpose: Emotional connection and personal response.

• Pupils write a short note, poem, or draw a symbol that represents what VE Day means to them today.
• Contributions placed into a “Memory Jar” to be revisited during future assemblies or lessons about peace and history.

5. Plenary: Group Discussion and Summary (5 mins)

Purpose: Consolidate learning and link to British values.

• Discuss how VE Day celebrations teach us the importance of peace, tolerance, and community today.
• Link to British values and how they connect to pupils’ daily lives.
• Highlight the 80th anniversary as a time to remember and celebrate together.

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Assessment

• Observation during group work and discussions assessing empathy and respect contributions.
• Reviewing quiz answers for understanding of key facts.
• Listening to reflections for personal engagement and connection to themes.

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Differentiation

• Support: Visual aids and sentence starters for writing reflections.
• Challenge: Encourage extended writing or researching a family story related to WWII.
• Provide roles within groups tailored to pupil strengths (artist, writer, presenter).

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Cross-curricular Links

• History: Contextualising WWII and VE Day.
• Art & Design: Creating murals and bunting reflecting historical themes.
• English: Storytelling, writing reflections, and discussion skills.
• Citizenship: Understanding rights, responsibilities, and British values.

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This lesson plan fosters not only historical understanding but also aims to inspire kindness, respect, and community spirit, capturing the essence of VE Day in a way that children find meaningful and memorable.