BBC Primary History World War 2
What it is: The BBC has so many incredible technology resources and websites for students. Today I learned about the BBC Primary History World War 2 website. I am really impressed with the wealth of information on this site, but also the age group it is targeted at: primary students. So much of the time, history websites (especially on WWII) are geared toward older students. This site is very kid friendly in its verbiage, images, and content. This is a great site to explore with your class to learn more about World War II. Students will learn about the world at war, evacuations, wartime homes, food and shopping, the war time efforts, children at war, air raids, daily life, growing up during wartime, and the end of the war. Each section has easy-to-understand information and pictures. Students can also be a historical detective with a World War II time capsule game. The teacher section has an amazing collection of related worksheets, activities, and links that can be used with the site.
How to integrate BBC Primary History World War 2 into the classroom: I am so impressed with the content presented on this site. It is easy enough for young students to gain an understanding of World War II. This would be an excellent website to share and explore with your whole class with a projector or interactive whiteboard. Read the facts and discuss the stories together while browsing through the primary resource photographs. Encourage students to imagine what it would have been like to be a student during the war. After you have viewed the site as a class, students can explore more on their own in a computer lab setting or on classroom computers. Allow the students to play the time capsule game to reinforce the skills they are learning.
Tips: This site could take several class periods or days to explore. The additional activities are wonderful, students can do everything from exploring a war time shelter to learning about rationing by shopping for a meal in 1943. I so wish that I had learned history this way!!
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using BBC Primary History World War 2 in your classroom.