New
New
Year 6

Women in the armed forces

I can describe how women's roles changed during the Second World War and explain why their roles changed.

New
New
Year 6

Women in the armed forces

I can describe how women's roles changed during the Second World War and explain why their roles changed.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Before the Second World War, women were expected to take care of domestic matters rather than working.
  2. If women did work, they were mainly employed in shops, domestic service or nursing - jobs thought to be ‘women’s jobs’.
  3. In December 1941, women were conscripted for the first time in British history; they could now do ‘men’s jobs’.
  4. Women worked in munitions, aircraft and tank factories, in shipbuilding or farming.
  5. Women also joined the armed forces as part of the WAAF, ATS or WRNS.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that only women from Britain served in the armed forces.

Highlight how thousands of women from across the British Empire at the time joined organisations like the ATS to help the British war effort.

Keywords

  • Domestic - things that are to do with the home are described as domestic

  • Domestic service - working in someone else's home is known as domestic service

  • Conscription - forcing people to join the armed forces is known as conscription; people in World War Two were conscripted

Look up online and share some of the real stories of individual women who served in the armed forces during WWII, they often recall that it was the best time of their lives.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • 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.
Complete the sentence: Nazi Germany invaded on 1st September, 1939.
Correct Answer: Poland, poland
Q2.
On what date did Britain and France declare war on Nazi Germany?
1st September, 1939
2nd September, 1939
Correct answer: 3rd September, 1939
4th September, 1939
Q3.
How many years did the Second World War last for?
4 years
5 years
Correct answer: 6 years
7 years
Q4.
Which statements about the Second World War are correct?
Correct answer: All men aged between 18 and 41 had to join the armed forces.
All men and women aged between 18 and 41 had to join the armed forces.
Correct answer: The people that joined the British armed forces did not all come from Britain.
The people that joined the British armed forces did all come from Britain.
Q5.
From 1939, thousands of children were from their homes in the cities to live with strangers in the countryside.
Correct Answer: evacuated , Evacuated
Q6.
Which statements accurately describe the impact of the Second World War after it ended?
Correct answer: Food rationing continued until 1954.
Correct answer: Children returned to cities to find their homes destroyed.
Correct answer: People from around the world were invited to help rebuild cities.
Food rationing was able to stop in 1945.

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: Things that are to do with the home are described as .
Correct Answer: domestic, Domestic
Q2.
What is the correct meaning of 'conscription'?
People volunteering to join the armed forces and help with the war
People refusing to join the armed forces and help with the war
Correct answer: People being forced to join the armed forces and help with the war
Q3.
In what year did conscription start for women?
1940
Correct answer: 1941
1942
1943
Q4.
Which are correct statements about the types of jobs women did in the Auxiliary Territorial Service?
Correct answer: Women were able to be radar operators.
Women were able to use weapons and fight.
Women were only able to be cleaners and cooks.
Correct answer: Women were able to be part of the military police.
Q5.
Match the acronyms to their correct meaning
Correct Answer:WAAF,the women’s branch of the British Air Force during WWII

the women’s branch of the British Air Force during WWII

Correct Answer:ATS,the women’s branch of the British Army during WWII

the women’s branch of the British Army during WWII

Correct Answer:WRNS,the women’s branch of the British Navy during WWII

the women’s branch of the British Navy during WWII

Q6.
Choose the correct statement about who was allowed to join the ATS, WAAF and WRNS in the Second World War.
Women who were married were not able to join.
Women who lived in different countries were not able to join.
Correct answer: Women from countries across the world were allowed to join.
Women who had children were not allowed to join.

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