New
New
Year 6

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.

New
New
Year 6

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.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The passengers of the Empire Windrush were seeking better job opportunities and a new life in Britain.
  2. Windrush passengers were mostly men, many of whom had served in the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.
  3. Some Britons welcomed the Windrush Generation as a much-needed source of labour while others opposed their arrival.
  4. The 1958 Notting Hill Race Riots damaged trust between the Afro-Caribbean community and the British establishment.
  5. Despite the significant challenges they faced, the Windrush Generation made extensive contributions to British society.

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.

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

Show pupils photographs, interviews and video footage from when The Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks. Also, the Oak reading unit based on 'London is the place for me' by Lord Kitchener explores how many of the Windrush Generation felt about immigrating to Britain.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does 'chronological order' mean?
The events in a text are not written in the order in which they happened.
Correct answer: The events in a text are written in the order in which they happened.
A text is written in a formal, informative way.
Q2.
When did World War Two occur?
1837-1901
1914-1918
Correct answer: 1939-1945
Q3.
Select the countries that make up Britain.
Correct answer: England
Correct answer: Wales
Ireland
Correct answer: Scotland
Q4.
Put these events in British history in the correct order.
1 - Victorian era
2 - World War One
3 - World War Two
Q5.
Select the definition of 'racism'.
when people are treated unfairly because of their sex or gender
Correct answer: when people are treated unfairly because of their skin colour or background
when people are treated unfairly because of their religious beliefs
Q6.
Select the definition of 'discrimination'.
Correct answer: the unfair treatment of one particular person or group of people
when two people have an argument
when two people have a heated conversation

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:British Empire,countries ruled or controlled by Britain

countries ruled or controlled by Britain

Correct Answer:Commonwealth,a collection of countries that were once governed by Britain

a collection of countries that were once governed by Britain

Correct Answer:immigrant,a person who has moved to a foreign country permanently

a person who has moved to a foreign country permanently

Correct Answer:the Empire Windrush,a ship that carried groups of West Indian immigrants to Britain

a ship that carried groups of West Indian immigrants to Britain

Correct Answer:the Windrush Generation,people who travelled from the Caribbean to Britain from 1948-1971

people who travelled from the Caribbean to Britain from 1948-1971

Q2.
How many countries have been under the rule of the British Empire throughout history?
6
16
46
Correct answer: 56
Q3.
Jamaica is one island that makes up the group of islands called the ...
Ionian
Correct answer: Caribbean
British Isles
Q4.
Fill in the gap in the following sentence: 'The journey from Jamaica to England lasted __________ days.'
2
12
Correct answer: 22
32
Q5.
The Empire Windrush set sail from Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, in ...
1914
1939
1945
Correct answer: 1948
Q6.
Match the terms to their definitions.
Correct Answer:Pardner Hand,a community-based saving scheme

a community-based saving scheme

Correct Answer:riots,a violent disturbance of peace by a crowd

a violent disturbance of peace by a crowd

Correct Answer:Teddy Boys , a group of young, white, working class men

a group of young, white, working class men