VE Day Celebrations

Lesson Overview

Duration: 55 minutes
Class size: 11 students
Key Stage: KS4 (14-16 years old)
Subject: PSHE
Topic: VE Day and the 80th Anniversary Celebrations
National Curriculum Links:

• PSHE Association Programme of Study (KS4) – Self and Relationships; Living in the Wider World – rights and responsibilities; historical context in social understanding.
• History Programme of Study (KS4) – Understanding key events of 20th-century British history.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand the historical significance of VE Day and its relevance to modern British society.
• Explore the social and emotional impact of war and peace on individuals and communities.
• Reflect on the values embodied in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary, including resilience, unity, and democracy.
• Develop critical thinking skills through creative and collaborative activities.
• Demonstrate empathy by considering multiple perspectives of people living during wartime.

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Resources Required

• Projector or Interactive Whiteboard
• Printed sets of primary source materials (letters, posters, diary excerpts from 1945)
• Large paper and coloured markers/pens
• VE Day themed music playlist (optional, to set mood)
• ‘Memory Wall’ template sheets
• Sticky notes

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Lesson Outline

1. Starter Activity: VE Day Quiz (5 minutes)

• Quick, engaging quiz with 5 multiple-choice questions on VE Day facts (e.g., date, significance, typical celebrations).
• Use interactive polling (mentimeter, hands up) to stimulate interest.
• Immediate feedback and brief discussion to set context for lesson.

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2. Historical Context: Storytelling & Primary Sources (10 minutes)

• Brief, vivid storytelling to paint a picture of 8 May 1945 (use emotive language).
• Introduce primary source excerpts: wartime letters from soldiers, celebration posters, diary entries from civilians.
• Students read in pairs and share one surprising fact or emotion they discover.

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3. Group Activity: ‘Memory Wall’ Creation (20 minutes)

• In groups of 3-4, students create a ‘Memory Wall’ on butcher’s paper, demonstrating what VE Day celebrations symbolised.
• Incorporate: key feelings (hope, relief), images, words from primary sources, and modern values linked to the event.
• Encourage creativity: drawings, keywords, short quotes.
• Circulate to prompt deeper thinking about community and shared identity.

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4. Reflection: Empathy and Modern Connections (10 minutes)

• Whole-class discussion: How do the values celebrated on VE Day relate to today’s society? What can we learn from these events about courage and unity?
• Use guided questions:
  • How might children in 1945 have felt when war ended?
  • What does peace mean to us now?
  • How do celebrations bring people together today, similarly or differently?
• Encourage students to link VE Day’s lessons to empathy, tolerance, and community in their own lives (PSHE key themes).

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5. Plenary: Personal Commitment (5 minutes)

• Each student writes a short pledge on a sticky note about how they will foster unity or resilience in their community.
• Stick notes on a ‘Peace Pledge’ board/wall in the classroom.
• Optionally, students can share their pledges aloud.

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Differentiation

• Provide primary source materials at varied reading levels.
• Offer sentence starters for reflections.
• Support less confident learners with paired reading and brainstorming.

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Assessment & Evaluation

• Informal assessment during group work – observation of engagement and understanding.
• Review of ‘Memory Wall’ content for depth of analysis.
• Plenary pledges assess personal connection and application of learning.
• Follow up with a reflective journaling task as homework or next lesson starter.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• History: Understanding key historical events, analysing sources.
• English: Reading comprehension, expressing ideas in writing.
• Citizenship: Understanding rights, responsibilities, and community values.

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Teacher Tips to Wow Your Class

• Use evocative storytelling and immerse students with sensory descriptions (sounds of celebrations, rationing struggles, etc.).
• Include a surprise music moment playing popular 1940s songs to bring atmosphere alive.
• Create a tactile experience by handling replica wartime materials or artefacts if possible.
• Invite students to draw parallels with other global peace celebrations or personal milestones, building empathy through connection.

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This plan aligns with UK PSHE frameworks, encouraging critical thinking, emotional literacy, and social awareness through historical enquiry and creative expression. It fosters respect for heritage while linking values directly to students’ lives today.