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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Second World War saw mass bombing campaigns against British civilians for the first time.
- Nazi Germany targeted British cities in 1940-1941, hoping to destroy British industry and morale.
- The government had prepared for this by evacuating many children away from the cities the moment the war started.
- For many city children, this was the first time they had been to the countryside, seen farm animals or eaten vegetables.
- For many children, away from home for so long, returning to their old lives and families in the city was very difficult.
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
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.
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 (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
Download starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
Select all the continents on which fighting happened during WWII.
North America
Q2.
What is a group of countries which is ruled by one country or leader called?
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
Q4.
Which statements are accurate statements about the Second World War?
The Second World War was fought only in Europe.
Less than two million soldiers from India joined the military service.
Q5.
Which statement is an accurate description of what 'ethnic diversity' means?
A group of countries ruled by one country or leader.
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
Exit quiz
Download exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
Who was evacuated from areas of Britain that were at high risk of bombing in 1939?
Q2.
What was the plan to move people to areas of safety known as?
Operation Safe Haven
Operation Exodus
Operation Shelter
Q3.
When did Nazi Germany begin their bombing of British cities?
1939
1941
1942
Q4.
Which statements about the night-time bombing by Nazi Germany are correct?
It lasted for five years.
Q5.
True or false? Evacuees were only sent to the countryside in Britain.
True
Q6.
How many homes had been damaged or destroyed during WWII?
Additional material
Download additional material