Researching the Windrush in preparation for writing an essay
I can research the historical and social context of the Windrush in preparation for writing an essay.
Researching the Windrush in preparation for writing an essay
I can research the historical and social context of the Windrush in preparation for writing an essay.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The passengers of the Empire Windrush were seeking better job opportunities and a new life in Britain.
- Windrush passengers were mostly men, many of whom had served in the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.
- Some Britons welcomed the Windrush Generation as a much-needed source of labour while others opposed their arrival.
- The 1958 Notting Hill Race Riots damaged trust between the Afro-Caribbean community and the British establishment.
- Despite the significant challenges they faced, the Windrush Generation made extensive contributions to British society.
Keywords
British Empire - countries ruled or controlled by Britain
Commonwealth - a collection of countries that work voluntarily towards shared goals of democracy, prosperity and peace
Immigrant - a person who has moved to a foreign country permanently, often for work or better living conditions
The Empire Windrush - a passenger ship that carried large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants to Britain in 1948
The Windrush generation - refers to the people who travelled from the Caribbean to the UK from 1948-1971
Common misconception
Pupils may have the misconception that the Windrush Generation's experience of life in Britain was very positive.
The 'Life in Britain' learning cycle explores the challenges and discrimination faced by the Windrush Generation.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Researching the Windrush in preparation for writing an essay, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Researching the Windrush in preparation for writing an essay, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the The Empire Windrush: essay writing unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
countries ruled or controlled by Britain
a collection of countries that were once governed by Britain
a person who has moved to a foreign country permanently
a ship that carried groups of West Indian immigrants to Britain
people who travelled from the Caribbean to Britain from 1948-1971
a community-based saving scheme
a violent disturbance of peace by a crowd
a group of young, white, working class men