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Last updated 29 November 2010 for Kesteven and Sleaford Girls’ High School (Mrs de la Bédoyère) 

HOME FRONT WORK SHEET NO. 1

In this enquiry, you will learn about different aspects of life in BRITAIN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939–45.

THE IDEA IS THAT YOU GET TO FIND OUT about how THE WAR changed LIFE for most British people

You will work in PAIRS, using IT, and a range of other sources to present a REPORT on what you have learnt from the topic List below. Underlined words in BLUE are called hyperlinks. Click on them to take you to places on this page, and to other sites in the Internet. Once you have used a link, it will turn PURPLE.

Pick TWO topics from the List below, that interest you. Each one has a hyperlink to help you write an informative report. Click on the link and read about the topic, using the other hyperlinks to explore other Internet sites. REMEMBER TO USE YOUR TEXTBOOKS AS WELL (all page references are to War and Peace).

When you are ready, start to write your report, using Microsoft Word.

NOTE TO TEACHERS: this page is based on a booklet I wrote on the Home Front available from Amazon here in the UK and from Amazon.com in the USA here

 

!!!WARNING!!!

DO NOT copy and paste huge chunks of text from web pages,

but you may use quotes and pictures

 TOPIC LIST

1. The Blitz - when British people were bombed by German aircraft, and how they protected themselves.

2. The role of Women - how women were called up to the armed services, and also worked in factories, and on the land.

3. Rationing - how food, clothing and other necessities were shared out

4. Evacuation - how thousands of children were sent to live far away from the dangers of the Blitz

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This is an excellent Home Front Link and if you’d like a chronology of World War Two, this site has a Timeline of WW2. Here is another site with numerous World War 2 links (thanks to Ashley Henderson for suggesting this).

 

1. THE BLITZ (textbook pp. 152, 164-168)

For this topic, you need to find out about the building of air raid shelters , the use of the Underground railway system in London, the work of the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) workforce. Evacuation is a related topic. Have you ever heard people talk about ‘the Blitz spirit’ when something bad happens, like a train crash? That comes from the War, but can you find evidence that it was true? Have a look at this BBC news magazine report (and another one here).

 

 here

This site has a great deal of general information. Try exploring it: Eden camp

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Picture shows a German 1kg incendiary bomb ready to be thrown away by gripping the tail, before it set fire to a building. It was dropped on Kent in 1940. You will have the chance to touch this actual bomb which never went off and which was defused.

2. THE ROLE OF WOMEN (textbook pp. 168-169)

 

You will need to research different jobs that women did, such as work in factories or in the Land Army **

These sites have a great deal of general information. Try exploring them: Eden camp and BBC History site here

 

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Picture shows a woman assembling the fuselage of a Supermarine Spitfire fighter. 

 

 

3. RATIONING (textbook pp. 170-171)

 

In this topic you will need to find out how rationing was organised, what each family’s rations of food and clothing were, and how Britain grew enough food. Have a look here too.

 

 

 This site has a great deal of general information. Try exploring it: Eden camp

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4. EVACUATION (textbook pp. 153-157)

 

You need to find out how children were organized and evacuated to new homes in the countryside. What sort of different reactions can you find? Try looking here too. Do you think it was worth all the trouble?

 

 

This site has a great deal of general information. Try exploring it: Eden camp

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