King's College London students evacuated to Bristol, 1940

Regular Sessions for AS/A2

Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939
Students are introduced to the story of Werner Lehmann, a German teenager from Leipzig who wrote to his American pen pal Howard throughout the 1930s. Through Werner’s letters and postcards and a range of other source material from our Collections, students can piece together a picture of what it was like to live in Nazi Germany in the years leading up to the Second World War. 

The session offers students the opportunity to practice their source evaluation skills through the analysis of artefacts, documents, photographs, film and oral history. It has direct links to both the AQA and Edexcel syllabuses, and has been designed to promote group-working, critical thinking and discussion.

Dates: Regular sessions, see table for dates
Times: 10.30am and 2.00pm
Session length: 90 minutes
Suitability: Year 12. Background knowledge helpful.
Party size: Maximum 32
Cost: £90 per session

Touching the Past
How can artefacts enrich our understanding of the past?  By combining original artefacts with replicas of items used during the Holocaust, this handling session explores key aspects of the historical narrative, challenges students to consider what is meant by ‘authenticity’ and asks how historians construct an understanding of the past. This workshop can stand alone or be combined with a visit to The Holocaust Exhibition.

Dates: Throughout term by special arrangement
Times: By arrangement
Session length: 90 minutes
Suitability: AS/A2
Party size: Maximum 32
Cost: £90 per session

Literature and Poetry of the First World War Conference
Please telephone 020 7416 5312 or email sballard@iwm.org.uk

This day will focus on the poetry produced in response to the First World War, looking in particular at the poets featured in The Oxford Book of War Poetry, edited by Jon Stallworthy.   Students will have the opportunity to discover more about the historical context behind the poetry and analyse various poems.  Speakers Jon Stallworthy, Emeritus Professor of English at Wolfson College, Oxford University, and Mario Petrucci, former Poet-in-Residence.

Main sources used for afternoon workshops, Scars Upon My Heart, Catherine Reilly, Up the Line to Death, Brian Gardner and the Oxford Book of War Poetry, Jon Stallworthy.

Dates: 26 November 2010 and 11 March 2011
Times: 10.30am - 4.00pm
Suitability: GCE English Literature in particular, AS Option b, World War One Literature AQA Syllabus
Cost: £15 per student. One free teacher with every ten students.

Please note that there will be a morning and lunch break, but refreshments will not be provided.

Interpretations: the First World War through poetry and artefacts
Students will use the Wilfred Owen poem 'Disabled' and artefacts from the collections of the Imperial War Museum to interpret aspects of the First World War.  This activity will encourage debate about Owen’s interpretation of a soldier ‘impaired’ by war.  The students will produce group interpretations of the poem using a range of artefacts, posters, photographs and documents.  The session also aims to develop understanding of the social, cultural and historical context in which the poem was written.

Dates: Throughout term by special arrangement
Times: 10.30am and 2.00pm
Session length: 90 minutes
Suitability: Year 10. Background knowledge helpful.
Party size: Maximum 32
Cost: £90 per session

Art Gallery Talks
Introductions to the First and/or Second World War art collection can be tailored to the needs of specific age groups and abilities.  Call 020 7416 5312 or 020 7416 5441 to discuss your requirements.

Dates: Throughout term by special arrangement
Times: By arrangement
Session length: Flexible
Suitability: AS/A2 option
Party size: Maximum 15