• Length of session 90 minutes
• This session has been devised for KS2 students and links to Unit 9 of the QCA Scheme of Work for History at KS2, “What was it like for children in the Second World War?”
• The class should be divided into four groups before arrival, so that the children are ready to take part in a variety of small group activities

Objectives

• To give pupils the opportunity to explore aspects of daily life in Wartime Britain using a variety of learning styles
• To give children access to a range of original and replica source material to enable them to gain an understanding of the life of a child in Britain just before and during World War 2
• To give children an understanding about what a Museum is and why artefacts are collected and displayed
• To enable pupils to ask and answer questions and to select and interpret information

Outline of session

• Introduction to the session and the Willis Museum, including health & safety briefing and explanation of the session (15 minutes)
• Hands-on activities in small groups (15 minutes for each activity):
  • Looking at original objects and discussing what they tell us about aspects of life during the War.
  • Studying pictures showing different stages of pre-War and Wartime life and discussing what it might have been like to live through these times
  • Working as a group to agree what items would be needed in your Anderson shelter in case of air raids.
  • Exploring the WW2 displays in the museum’s galleries.
• Conclusion: the whole class come back together to discuss what they have learnt through observation and participation in the activities.

Our fully trained session leader will run the session throughout, but teachers / adult helpers will be needed to assist with three of the four activities. The class should be divided into four groups before arrival, so that each group can participate in the four activities in turn.

You will be visiting the Willis Museum for 1 ½ hours to support the delivery of a session called “Basingstoke Through War and Peace”. The session has been devised and developed especially for Key Stage 2 pupils. You will be leading a small group of pupils as they try a range of activities in the museum; an Interpreter-Demonstrator will oversee the session and support you.

On arrival the Interpreter-Demonstrator will meet you and introduce you to the museum and give you a brief introduction to the activities you will be involved in. The class will then divide into the four, pre-arranged groups and you will stay with one of these groups to assist them as they tackle the four activities in turn.

Each activity has an instruction card and, where appropriate, additional information to help you guide the children through the activity. This additional information should not be read out to the group, as the challenge for them is to discover the answers for themselves, but you may find it useful in order to steer the activity.

The activities each last for approximately 15 minutes and are

Looking at Original Objects

This session will be led by our staff member and will give the children the opportunity to handle original objects from the 1940s. Please ensure that children obey the handling instructions and take care when holding the objects.

Looking at Photographs

You will be given a collection of large photographs for your group to study one at a time and a card with suggested questions to ask the children. The card also gives further information to help you steer the children to the right answers.

The Anderson Shelter Game

In this activity, your group will be given a collection of picture cards and replica documents. The challenge is for the children to decide which of these items they would want to have in the family’s Anderson shelter in case of an air raid! You will be given a card with instructions to read out and there are no right and wrong answers - the activity is designed to get the children thinking.

Gallery Tour

A chance to take your group to see our gallery displays about World War 2. You will be given a set of questions to ask the children and provided with the answers and further information.

At the end of the session, the class will be brought back together so that the children have a chance to share their learning with the rest of the class.

The session will take place in the gallery on the second floor of the museum, with access by two flights of stairs. A stair lift is available for anyone with mobility issues. The toilets are on the first floor and children must be accompanied.