The Blitz Lesson Plan
Learning Objective: Pupils can describe the Blitz and explain its impact on civilians in Britain
About this resource
This comprehensive lesson plan provides everything you need to teach Year 5 pupils about the Blitz, enabling them to describe this significant historical event and understand its profound impact on British civilians. Designed for history lessons, it offers a structured approach to exploring this key period, directly supporting the UK National Curriculum's requirements for studying British history beyond 1066.
Starter
10 minutesPlay the sound of an air raid siren. Ask: 'What is this sound? When would you have heard it? What would you do?' Introduce the Blitz — the German bombing campaign against British cities from September 1940.
Main Activity
30 minutesPart 1: Information Stations
- Station 1: Timeline of the Blitz (key dates and events)
- Station 2: Anderson and Morrison shelters (how they worked)
- Station 3: The Blackout (why and how)
- Station 4: Photographs of bomb damage (London, Coventry, Liverpool)
Part 2: Newspaper Report Write a newspaper report about a night during the Blitz. Include: headline, what happened, eyewitness quotes, description of damage, and how people responded.
Plenary
10 minutesShare newspaper reports. Discuss: 'How did ordinary people show courage during the Blitz?' Introduce the concept of the 'Blitz spirit' — was it real or was it propaganda?
Differentiation
SEN Support
Simplified information cards. Newspaper template with sections pre-labelled. Sentence starters.
EAL Support
Visual timeline. Key vocabulary: Blitz, siren, shelter, blackout. Paired station work.
Gifted & Talented
Research whether the 'Blitz spirit' was real or a myth. Write a balanced argument with evidence from both sides.
Key Vocabulary
Assessment Criteria
- Can describe what the Blitz was
- Can explain how civilians were affected
- Can write an informative newspaper report
Cross-Curricular Links
Teaching World War Two? Giant Journeys brings history to life with an immersive WW2 workshop — evacuation, the Blitz, rationing, and the home front, all experienced first-hand. Visit: https://www.giantjourneys.co.uk