Special sessions for KS2
 |
| Life at Peckham Central School, 1943 |
Model House Project
Uncover the personal stories of the Allpress family, who lived in London during the Second World War. Children will handle artefacts and look at photographs and documents connected to different members of the family to investigate how the war affected their lives. They will also look at a detailed model of the family house and compare and contrast the living conditions of the 1940s and today.
| Dates |
Regular sessions, see table for dates |
| Times |
11.00am and 1.30pm |
| Session length |
1 hour 30 minutes |
| Suitability |
Years 4-7. KS2 pupils doing ‘Britain Since 1930’ Study Unit. |
| Party Size |
Maximum 30 |
Life on the Home Front
This interactive talk will bring alive the living conditions in wartime Britain. Children will look at artefacts, posters and photographs on a range of themes including evacuation, rationing, air raids and civil defence.
| Dates |
Regular sessions, see table for dates |
| Times |
11.00am and 1.30pm |
| Session length |
1 hour |
| Suitability |
Years 3–6. This session is particularly suitable asan introduction to the Study Unit Britain Since 1930. It is also suitable for EAL students |
| Party Size |
Maximum 35 |
The Children’s Hour
Using artefacts, documents and photographs, this interactive session aims to develop your pupils’ understanding of what it was like to be a child in Britain during the Second World War. Your class will investigate how children helped out during the Second World War, how they coped with the dangers of air raids and shortages, and how they entertained themselves.
| Dates |
Regular sessions, see table for dates |
| Times |
11.00am and 1.30pm |
| Session length |
1 hour |
| Suitability |
Years 3–4 |
| Party Size |
Maximum 35 |
Through Children’s Eyes
This session examines the impact of the Second World War on the everyday lives of British children in both the city and countryside. Your class will unpack bags belonging to children who lived at this time to discover more about their individual stories. There will be a chance to handle artefacts, look at photographs and examine documents such as diary extracts and letters. Some of the stories featured in the session illustrate the experiences of evacuee veterans who speak to school groups in The Children’s War exhibition.
| Dates |
Regular sessions, see table for dates |
| Times |
11.00am and 1.30pm |
| Session length |
1 hour 30 minutes |
| Suitability |
Years 5–6 |
| Party Size |
Maximum 35 |
Special Sessions for KS2
Together in Black History Month
This session examines the often-neglected contribution made by African, Asian and Caribbean men and women in the Second World War. In groups, students evaluate documents, photographs, film and oral history.
| Dates |
13–17 October |
| Times |
10.30am and 1.30pm |
| Session length |
1 hour 30 minutes |
| Suitability |
Years 5–6. |
| Party Size |
Maximum 32 |
Wartime Christmas
This activity will examine the problems involved in celebrating Christmas during the
Second World War. Families were separated, and there were shortages affecting food and buying presents. The need for salvage and recycling at Christmas will be discussed, and
pupils make their own wartime decorations.
| Dates |
1–5 December |
| Times |
10.30am and 1.30pm |
| Session length |
1 hour 45 minutes |
| Suitability |
Years 3–6. KS2 pupils doing ‘Britain Since 1930’ Study Unit. |
| Party Size |
Maximum 35 |
We’ll Eat Again!
Children will participate in a range of activities that explore why food rationing was
necessary and how people coped with it in the Second World War. Activities include
working as a group to bake a recipe of the time and the opportunity to produce a ‘Food
Flash.’
Dates 2–6 March
Times 10.30am and 1.30pm
Session length 1 hour 45 minutes
Suitability Years 5–6, KS2 Study Unit: Britain Since 1930
Party Size Maximum 30. Please note that three adults willneed to accompany the group.
Far From Home: Evacuation Study
A range of activities exploring stories of evacuation through artefacts, oral history,
photographs, posters and film. Children work in groups to investigate the evidence.
Dates 18–22 May
Times 10.30am and 1.30pm
Session length 1 hour 30 minutes
Suitability Years 4–6, KS2 Study Unit: Britain Since 1930
Party Size Maximum 32
Images of Leadership: Hitler and Churchill
An art and history project that will examine the cult of leadership and the creation of myths surrounding figures such as Hitler and Churchill through photographs, posters, cartoons and paintings. Students will create their own posters and cartoons, and a comparison will also be made with how our world leaders are portrayed in the media today.
Dates 8–12 June
Times 10.30am and 1.30pm
Session length 1 hour 45 minutes
Suitability Years 4–6
Party Size Maximum 35
Evacuees: Home…Alone!
Run by XCITED (Cross Curriculum in Theatre Education), this participatory drama
project, on the theme of evacuation investigates the choices made by families and
government for the safety of the nations’ children, exploring the feelings and
experiences of evacuees.
Dates 22–26 June
Times 10.30am and 1.30pm
Session length 1 hour 45 minutes
Suitability Years 4–6
Party Size Maximum 35
Art as Evidence
Working in groups, children examine and evaluate artefacts, photographs and documents in relation to art from the First and Second World Wars.
Dates Throughout term by special arrangement
Times 10.30am and 2.00pm
Session length 1 hour 30 minutes
Suitability See above
Party Size Maximum 32
Art Gallery Talks
Talks on the First and Second World Wars can be tailored to the needs of specific age groups and abilities. Telephone 020 7416 5446 to discuss your requirements.
Dates Throughout term by special arrangement
Times By arrangement
Session length 30–45 minutes
Suitability Years 3–6
Party Size Maximum 15
Special Educational Needs Days
Specially devised handling sessions and/or gallery tours on a variety of themes connected to both the First and Second World Wars can be arranged.
Dates 28 November, 12 February, 5 June
Times By arrangement
Session length Flexible
Suitability KS2
Party Size Maximum 15
Experiences led by actor-interpreters
Blitz Experience
An actor-interpreter in the role of an air raid warden takes children back in time to 1940 and the Blitz. Sessions include a general briefing and an escorted visit to the Blitz Experience complete with sound, smells and other special effects.
Dates See table for dates
Times 10.30am, 10.50, 11.10, 11.30, 11.50, 12.10pm, 1.00, 1.20, 1.40, 2.00
Session length 30 minutes
Suitability Years 3–11
Party Size Maximum 19 children and 1 adult
Cost £50 per session
Booking Schools will be invoiced
Please note that entry to the Blitz Experience must be booked, and all sessions are with an actor-interpreter.
Trench Experience
An actor-interpreter in the role of either a First World War soldier or a nurse in a casualty clearing station will help pupils find out about life in the trenches and behind the lines on the Western Front. Also includes a visit to the Museum’s trench re-creation, the Trench Experience.
Dates See table for dates
Times 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm
Session length 30 minutes
Suitability Years 5–11
Party Size Maximum 19 children and 1 adult
Cost £50 per session
Booking Schools will be invoiced
