What we offer for Schools

Last Post: Remembering the First World War - Education Sessions

The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) and the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms (CMCWR) are offering free education workshops linked to the Last Post: Remembering the First World War exhibition at the CMCWR.

The sessions last roughly 2 hours and can accommodate a maximum of 35 children. each session includes three activities.

Activity 1 Working with short extracts from War Game, the DVD of Michael Foreman’s award winning book, children will handle objects, examine facsimiles of original documents, and use role play and discussion to deepen their understanding of communication and remembrance. 

Activity 2 An opportunity to consider the importance of letter-writing and communication. Children will follow a trail through the Last Post: Remembering the First World War exhibition and the Churchill Museum, using the Museum’s award-winning interactive displays. 

Activity 3 Working in small groups in our ICT room, children will create soundtracks to accompany original First World War film footage of the journey of letters from home to the front.  The sessions focus on literacy and remembrance, with cross-curricular links to history and ICT.  They are designed to develop confidence, imagination and investigative skills. 

Workshops can be booked on the following Thursdays during Autumn term 2008 and Spring term 2009:

November 20 2008

December 4, 11, 18 2008 

January 8, 15, 22  2009  

January 27 2009 (Tuesday)

February  5, 12, 26  2009

Morning and afternoon sessions are available 10.00 am - 12.00 noon 12.30 pm - 2.30 pm

Places will be booked on a first come, first served basis, so please book early to avoid disappointment. To book, please contact the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms on 020 7766 0130/0132, or email cwr-edu@iwm.org.uk

Illustrated Talks

Life in Wartime Britain
A general survey, making use of the rich resources of the Photographic and Art departments of the Imperial War Museum, and including evacuation, gasmasks, shelters, bombing, rationing, women’s work and the impact of Commonwealth and US personnel on British life

Evacuees

Children in the Blitz
A look at the wartime experience of children, whether or not they were evacuated

Evacuees
Life for town children in the new setting of the countryside

Churchill’s Finest Hour?
What was his background, and what was he like as Prime Minister?

Handling Workshops and Study Sessions

The Blitz Workshop
Investigating the Home Front, and wartime supplies using artefacts such as gas masks, food and clothing, as well as documents and relevant on line information

Wartime Poster

A Case for Evacuation
Using history detective skills to unpack a suitcase, find out about this ‘evacuee’ and explore the issues of evacuation

PropArt! 
A discussion and investigation of wartime posters, followed by a chance to use art and literacy skills to design your own wartime posters.

Research, discussion and presentation Workshops

The Civilian War Readiness Committee, June 1939
With war becoming increasingly likely, the committee meets to discuss seven different issues, such as what can be done to protect civilians against bomb and gas attacks?  What should be done about shortages, and the threat of invasion?
Download the briefing papers.