Ever wondered what it would be like to live through the war? This World War 2 unit study is designed to give you an insight into life in the UK between 1939 and 1945.
During World War II, life on the home front in Britain changed dramatically. With food and goods in short supply, the government introduced rationing to ensure fair distribution of essential items. At the same time, families were encouraged to grow their own food in Victory Gardens to supplement their rations and support the war effort. These measures had a significant impact on daily life and required everyone to adapt to new ways of managing resources. In this challenge, you will step back in time to experience two crucial aspects of life during World War II: rationing and food production.
Create a World War II Ration Book
Families received ration books with coupons to buy essentials. These books were crucial for managing scarce resources. Imagine you are a government official working for the Ministry of Food in 1939. Your job is to design a ration book that will be used by every person in Britain.
Objective
To understand the impact of rationing on daily life during World War II and develop skills in historical research, design, and numeracy.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the purpose and implementation of rationing during World War II.
- Develop research skills by investigating historical documents and data.
- Apply mathematical skills to calculate and allocate ration points.
- Enhance creative design skills in producing an authentic-looking historical document.
Activity Steps
- Research World War II rationing systems and the types of goods that were rationed.
- Design the layout of your ration book, including coupon pages and personal information.
- Calculate appropriate ration allowances for different items based on historical data.
- Create your ration book using paper, colouring materials, and any additional craft supplies.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Journaling your experience, reflecting on how rationing might have affected daily life.
- Designing a digital infographic comparing wartime rations to modern consumption patterns.
Resources
Website: Imperial War Museum – What you need to know about rationing.
Video: Tasting History – World War 2 rations on the British Home Front
Video: Tasting History – Eating in a London Blitz Bomb Shelter
Plan a Victory Garden
You are a home gardener in 1942. The government has asked all families to grow their own food to help with shortages. Victory Gardens were grown anywhere possible: in backyards, on rooftops, and even in window boxes. This helped supplement rationed food supplies. Your challenge is to plan a Victory Garden suitable for a typical British family during wartime.
Objective
To understand the importance of food production on the home front and develop skills in gardening, nutrition, and resource management.
Outcomes
- Understand the concept of Victory Gardens and their role in wartime Britain.
- Develop skills in garden planning and plant selection.
- Enhance knowledge of nutrition and sustainable food production.
- Improve mathematical skills through area calculation and crop yield estimation.
Activity Steps
- Research common vegetables grown in British Victory Gardens during World War II.
- Research the nutrition needs of your family. How much do you need to grow to supplement your rations?
- Design a garden layout for your family, considering space and nutritional needs.
- Create a planting schedule based on wartime gardening advice.
- Calculate potential crop yields and how they would supplement rationed food.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Drawing a detailed garden plan, including plant varieties and spacing.
- Creating a month-by-month gardening calendar for your Victory Garden.
- Writing a recipe book using produce from your garden, considering wartime rationing.
Resources
Live Like It’s 1943!
Let’s take your rationing experience to the next level. How about challenging your whole family to live on World War II rations for a week? It’s a great way to understand what life was like during those tough times.
Your Family’s Weekly Rations
Imagine you’re a family of four (two adults and two children) in 1943. Here’s what you’d get for the week:
For the whole family:
- Bacon and ham: 16 oz (about 450g)
- Butter: 8 oz (about 225g)
- Cheese: 8 oz (about 225g)
- Margarine: 16 oz (about 450g)
- Cooking fat: 16 oz (about 450g)
- Sugar: 32 oz (about 900g)
- Jam or preserves: 8 oz (about 225g)
- Tea: 8 oz (about 225g)
Per person:
- Meat: Value of 1 shilling and 2 pence (about 2 chops)
- Milk: 3 pints (about 1.7 litres)
- 1 fresh egg (if available)
- Dried egg powder (equivalent to 1 egg per week)
Extra for children:
- 1 pint (about 570ml) of milk per day
- Orange juice
- Cod liver oil
Non-rationed foods:
- Bread and potatoes (but limited)
- Fresh vegetables and fruits (what might you have growing at this time of year? And how much could you have grown in your garden?)
The Challenge
Compare and contrast: At the end of the week, discuss how this diet differs from your usual eating habits. What did you learn?
Plan your meals: Using only these ingredients, plan out your family’s meals for the week. Get creative!
Go shopping: Try to find similar amounts of these foods at your local store.
Cook and eat: Prepare your meals using only the rationed ingredients. You might want to look up some wartime recipes for inspiration.
Keep a diary: Each family member should write down their thoughts and feelings about the experience. What’s the hardest part? What’s surprisingly easy?
Food rationing was only one of the challenges of life on the Homefront. The next activities explore clothing, air raids, news and keeping up morale!
Design a ‘Make Do and Mend’ Fashion Collection
During World War II, clothing was rationed and British citizens were encouraged to ‘Make Do and Mend’. Your challenge is to design a wartime fashion collection using recycled materials and limited resources.
Objective
To understand the impact of rationing on daily life and develop skills in creative problem-solving, design, and sustainable fashion.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the concept of ‘Make Do and Mend’ and its importance in wartime Britain.
- Develop skills in fashion design and upcycling techniques.
- Enhance knowledge of wartime rationing and resource management.
- Improve creative thinking and practical problem-solving abilities.
Activity Steps
- Research clothing styles and rationing rules in 1940s Britain.
- Collect materials that could have been used for clothing during wartime (old curtains, bedding, parachute silk, old used clothing, etc.).
- Design a small collection of clothing items using these materials.
- Create one item from your collection using basic sewing techniques.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Drawing fashion sketches of your ‘Make Do and Mend’ collection.
- Creating a lookbook showcasing your designs and the materials used.
- Writing a ‘how-to’ guide for one of your upcycling techniques.
Resources
Video: Imperial War Museum – Clothes Rationing – Make do and Mend.
Video: 1940s Fashion
Book: Zero-Waste Patterns: 20 Projects to Sew Your Own Wardrobe
Book: 1940s Fashion – Definitive Source Book
TV: Check out the Great British Sewing Bee for some general design inspiration.
Create Three World War II Home Front Newspapers – 1939, 1942 and 1945.
Newspapers played a crucial role in keeping British citizens informed during World War II. Your task is to create a wartime newspaper front page from 3 different years, focusing on life on the home front and adhering to wartime reporting guidelines.
Objective
To understand the role of media during World War II and develop skills in journalism, critical thinking, and historical analysis.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the importance of newspapers in wartime Britain.
- Develop skills in journalistic writing and newspaper layout.
- Enhance knowledge of wartime censorship and propaganda.
- Improve research skills and ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.
Activity Steps
- Research major events and daily life issues on the British home front in 1939, 1942 and 1945.
- Write articles covering various aspects of home front life, including rationing, air raids, and war work.
- Design the layout of your newspaper, including headlines, columns, and images.
- Create advertisements that reflect wartime products and government campaigns.
Resources
For a great jumping off point, and in easy way to discuss and discover how news was reported during the war you should check out this set of 7 replica, World War 2 newspapers. This physical resource is also available to buy as individual papers.
Explore World War II Music: Compose a Song of Hope
Music played a significant role during World War II, boosting morale and expressing emotions. Songs like “We’ll Meet Again” became anthems of hope. Your challenge is to analyse wartime music and compose your own song of hope for today’s world by rewriting the lyrics to a familiar tune.
Objective
To understand the cultural significance of music during World War II and develop musical composition skills while exploring themes of hope and resilience.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse the lyrical and musical elements of World War II era songs.
- Understand the role of music in shaping public morale and expressing collective emotions.
- Develop skills in musical composition and lyric writing.
- Explore themes of hope and resilience in historical and contemporary contexts.
Activity Steps
- Listen to and analyse popular songs from the World War II era.
- Identify common themes, musical styles, and lyrical techniques used.
- Brainstorm themes of hope and resilience relevant to today’s world.
- Search for a suitable backing track (try searching for karaoke versions of your chosen song) and write your own lyrics.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Creating a lyric sheet with annotations explaining your song’s meaning and techniques.
- Recording a performance of your song using a smartphone or computer.
- Designing an album cover for your song that reflects its themes and style.
Resources
Article: 10 Definitive Songs from World War 2
Website: BBC Teach – WW2 Songs
Recreate a World War II Air Raid Shelter
During World War II, air raid shelters were a common sight in British gardens. These structures protected families during bombing raids. Your task is to design and build a model air raid shelter, understanding the challenges faced by civilians on the home front.
Objective
To understand the impact of air raids on civilian life during World War II and develop skills in design, construction, and historical empathy.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the purpose and design of air raid shelters during World War II.
- Develop skills in model-making and spatial awareness.
- Enhance knowledge of daily life on the British home front.
- Improve problem-solving abilities through design challenges.
Activity Steps
- Research different types of air raid shelters used in Britain during World War II.
- Design your own air raid shelter, considering size, materials, and safety features.
- Build a scale model of your shelter using cardboard, clay, or other craft materials.
- Create a list of essential items that would have been kept in the shelter.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Writing a diary entry from the perspective of someone using your shelter during a raid.
- Creating a technical drawing of your shelter design, including measurements and materials.
- Producing a short video tour of your model, explaining its features and historical context.
Resources
Website: Find My Past – Air Raid Shelters
Places to visit during your World War II Homefront unit study
Here’s a list of places in the UK relevant to studying the World War 2 Homefront, suitable for young people to visit:
Eden Camp Modern History Museum, North Yorkshire
Eden Camp offers a unique, immersive experience of wartime Britain. Set in an original World War II prisoner of war camp, it features recreated scenes that bring the Home Front to life. Visitors can explore air raid shelters, experience the Blitz, and learn about rationing and evacuation.
Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire
IWM Duxford houses an impressive collection of aircraft and military vehicles. The museum’s exhibits cover various aspects of the war, including the Battle of Britain and life on the Home Front. Young visitors can see Spitfires up close and explore how the war affected everyday life.
Churchill War Rooms, London
This underground bunker served as Winston Churchill’s command centre during World War II. Visitors can see the rooms where crucial decisions were made and learn about the challenges faced by those working there. The museum provides insights into wartime leadership and the impact of the war on London.
The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth
This museum offers a naval perspective on the war. Visitors can explore HMS Alliance, a World War II era submarine, and learn about the role of the Royal Navy in protecting Britain’s shores and supply lines. The museum also covers the experiences of sailors and their families during the war.
The National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield
This museum provides insights into how emergency services operated during the war. Visitors can explore air raid shelters, see wartime fire engines, and learn about the crucial role of civil defence in protecting civilians during air raids.
Family dinners offer a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations that can spark curiosity and foster critical thinking. Dinner Time Discussions transform these everyday moments into enriching experiences for the whole family. These discussions are inspired by Socratic questioning, a method that encourages deeper thinking through thoughtful inquiry.
Download the FREE WW2 Dinner Time Discussion cards here.
Have you tried any of these activities or resources with your child? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section below!