New
New
Year 6

Bombing and evacuation

I can explain why evacuation was a huge turning point for many children during the Second World War.

New
New
Year 6

Bombing and evacuation

I can explain why evacuation was a huge turning point for many children during the Second World War.

Lesson details

Key learning points

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

Common misconception

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

Children were sent to other countries like Australia and South Africa in 1940.

Keywords

  • 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

You could share some real life stories of evacuees in the areas local to you.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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.
Select all the continents on which fighting happened during WWII.
Correct answer: Africa
Correct answer: Asia
North America
Correct answer: Europe
Q2.
What is a group of countries which is ruled by one country or leader called?
Correct answer: an empire
a kingdom
a continent
a territory
Q3.
What was the term given to Britain and those countries that fought with Britain in the Second World War?
the Commonwealth
the Central Powers
the Axis Forces
Correct answer: the Allied Forces
Q4.
Which statements are accurate statements about the Second World War?
The Second World War was fought only in Europe.
Correct answer: Britain had an empire at the beginning of WWII.
Less than two million soldiers from India joined the military service.
Correct answer: In total, 8.5 million soldiers fought for Britain and its allies.
Q5.
Which statement is an accurate description of what 'ethnic diversity' means?
A group of countries ruled by one country or leader.
Correct answer: Many people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Many people from one, singular country.
Q6.
How many different languages were spoken in The Fourteenth Army?
at least 4
at least 14
at least 20
at least 34
Correct answer: at least 40

6 Questions

Q1.
Who was evacuated from areas of Britain that were at high risk of bombing in 1939?
Correct Answer: civilians, Civilians
Q2.
What was the plan to move people to areas of safety known as?
Operation Safe Haven
Operation Exodus
Correct answer: Operation Pied Piper
Operation Shelter
Q3.
When did Nazi Germany begin their bombing of British cities?
1939
Correct answer: 1940
1941
1942
Q4.
Which statements about the night-time bombing by Nazi Germany are correct?
Correct answer: It was known as 'The Blitz'.
It lasted for five years.
Correct answer: Civilians took shelter in places such as tube stations.
Correct answer: Public shelters could be cold and crowded.
Q5.
True or false? Evacuees were only sent to the countryside in Britain.
True
Correct answer: False
Q6.
How many homes had been damaged or destroyed during WWII?
Correct Answer: two million, 2,000,000

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