How were children affected by World War II? How were children kept safe? What was the impact on children’s daily life? How were children around the world impacted?

These are the key questions that we answer in our spring term topic. We experience what life was like for a child living in the time of the Second World War. As war begins, and the air raid siren sounds, we first find out about life in our country during wartime - how people protected themselves, how rationing affected diet, and what it felt like for a child who was evacuated away from their family. A trip to Newhaven Fort enhances our topic by learning about wartime defences and the Home Front.

We will sing wartime songs and learn 1940's-style dances, cook authentic wartime meals - using rationed ingredients, and our artwork will be inspired by L.S Lowry. Our science topics during the spring term are light and electricity.

During the second half of the spring term, we learn about the effects of war on children in different countries around the world. We are introduced to The Holocaust through our texts Rose Blanche and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.  In RE, we learn about the Jewish faith and explore how people’s faith may affect their choices: focusing particularly on Anne Frank. Finally, our wartime journey ends with a VE Day-style celebration- come and celebrate with us!

Questions we'll be asking:

• Which countries were involved in the Second World War?
• What was rationing and how did affect people’s lives?
• Where were children evacuated to?
• How did the war impact on children from around the world?