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Year 6 - History

Bombing and evacuation

Significant turning points: how did experiences differ during WWII?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the outbreak of the Second World War and examine different wartime experiences from across Britain and her empire. They also develop their understanding of the second-order concepts of similarity and difference.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain why evacuation was a huge turning point for many children during the Second World War.

Key Notes

  • The Second World War saw mass bombing campaigns against British civilians for the first time.
  • Nazi Germany targeted British cities in 1940-1941, hoping to destroy British industry and morale.
  • The government had prepared for this by evacuating many children away from the cities the moment the war started.
  • For many city children, this was the first time they had been to the countryside, seen farm animals or eaten vegetables.
  • For many children, away from home for so long, returning to their old lives and families in the city was very difficult.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • civilian: a civilian is someone who is not part of the armed forces
  • bombing: dropping explosives out of an aeroplane onto the ground below is called bombing
  • evacuee: a person who has been moved to another place for safety is an evacuee
  • morale: the confidence and cheerfulness of a group of people is called morale

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that children were only evacuated to areas in Britain during the Second World War.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

The Second World War saw mass bombing campaigns against British civilians for the first time. Nazi Germany targeted British cities in 1940-1941, hoping to destroy British industry and morale.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'civilian'

a civilian is someone who is not part of the armed forces.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Pupils may think that children were only evacuated to areas in Britain during the Second World War. Correction: Children were sent to other countries like Australia and South Africa in 1940.

More Lessons In This Unit

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