Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s
I can use photographs to describe some features of 1940s and 50s Britain.
Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s
I can use photographs to describe some features of 1940s and 50s Britain.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Looking at photographs of Britain from the 1940s and 1950s can tell us a lot about that time.
- Photographs of bomb damage and new types of housing can tell us about the effects of the Second World War.
- Photographs of kitchens can show us what life at home was like in the 1950s.
- Photographs of busy streets in London and Leeds can tell us about the sorts of transport people used.
- All of these photographs can tell us about things that have changed or stayed the same since these times.
Keywords
Second World War - the Second World War was a war between lots of countries around the world that took place between 1939 and 1945
Prefabricated - prefabricated houses are built in a factory and then transported to the final location on a lorry
Transport - transport is the method by which people or goods are moved from one place to another
Common misconception
The Second World War was happening in the 1950's.
Explain to the children that the Second World War ended half way through the 1940's. In the 1950's people and cities were recovering from the effects of the war. New houses, technology and transport was available.
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s, 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 1 history lessons from the Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
the process of taking a photo
a picture created by a camera
someone who takes photographs