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Year 6 - History

Women in the armed forces

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 describe how women's roles changed during the Second World War and explain why their roles changed.

Key Notes

  • Before the Second World War, women were expected to take care of domestic matters rather than working.
  • If women did work, they were mainly employed in shops, domestic service or nursing - jobs thought to be 'women's jobs'.
  • In December 1941, women were conscripted for the first time in British history; they could now do 'men's jobs'.
  • Women worked in munitions, aircraft and tank factories, in shipbuilding or farming.
  • Women also joined the armed forces as part of the WAAF, ATS or WRNS.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • domestic: things that are to do with the home are described as domestic
  • domestic service: working in someone else's home is known as domestic service
  • conscription: forcing people to join the armed forces is known as conscription; people in World War Two were conscripted

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that only women from Britain served in the armed forces.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Before the Second World War, women were expected to take care of domestic matters rather than working. If women did work, they were mainly employed in shops, domestic service or nursing - jobs thought to be 'women's jobs'.

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

things that are to do with the home are described as domestic.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Pupils may think that only women from Britain served in the armed forces. Correction: Highlight how thousands of women from across the British Empire at the time joined organisations like the ATS to help the British war effort.

More Lessons In This Unit

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