Educational Resources
Introduction
In 2006 NEWMP produced a DVD for schools based on the then National Curriculum Topic – What are we remembering on Remembrance Day? This is now out of date and instead, we are offering this list of resources available online for schools and teachers.
If you come across any other suitable website/resources for schools please email 2014@newmp.org.uk and we will update this list.
Activity Village
Remembrance Day
Get the children involved and help them to understand what Remembrance Day is all about with our collection of Poppy Day colouring pages, classroom printables, crafts and activities, suitable for the classroom or home. We’ve tried to provide activities that span a wide range of ages below.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
From “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon
Some free downloadable Resources
BBC
CBBC and CBeebies
Instead of 2 minutes’ silence, CBBC and CBeebies broadcast this 2 minute animation called “Poppies”, showing war from the animals’ points of view.
Beautifully evocative music accompanies this gorgeous animation. © BBC MMXVII.
Primary
School Radio – A Soldier’s Tale
Listen to the diary of a young soldier called Walter Bush who fought in World War One. This story is suitable for pupils aged 7-11 and is told in two parts using real archive images.
Remembrance Day Primary Assembly Pack
Explore our Primary Assembly Pack on the theme of remembrance. It includes everything you need to mark Remembrance Day in your school. The pack was originally produced for the 2014 centenary of World War One.
School Radio – Why Poppies?
Listen to a Collective Worship programme for pupils aged 5-7 exploring Remembrance Day and why people wear poppies. The programme is presented by Ben Faulks and includes a song, a story and the opportunity for pupils to reflect on what they’ve heard.
A-Z of WW1
Explore our collection of short films using a mixture of children’s research, personal testimony monologues, and artefacts and archive from the time to highlight the diversity of the people affected by the war. Suitable for teaching pupils aged 5-11.
School Radio – WW1 Performance Pack
Commemorate WW1 by staging School Radio’s specially-written play ‘Archie Dobson’s War’. Suitable for teaching pupils aged 9-11.
WW1 Primary Resource Collection
Discover this extensive collection of Primary resources that explore various aspects of World War One.
School Radio – War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Listen to an abridgement of Michael Morpurgo’s much-loved novel, ‘War Horse’. The story is retold in 10 parts and is suitable for teaching pupils aged 9-11.
School Radio – Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Listen to an abridgement of Michael Morpurgo’s moving story, ‘Private Peaceful’. The story is retold in 13 parts and is suitable for teaching pupils aged 9-11.
Secondary
Remembrance Day Secondary Assembly Pack
Explore our Secondary Assembly Pack on the theme of remembrance. It includes everything you need to mark Remembrance Day with your school. This pack was originally produced for the 2014 centenary of World War One.
The end of the war and remembrance
A guide that explores how World War One ended and is remembered; including why poppies are worn and how the war poetry of Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon and Laurence Binyon are important to remembering it today.
Remembrance and the memorial of casualties
Find out why we mark the 11 November in this film presented by Jeremy Paxman. Suitable for teaching students aged 11-16.
Britain’s Great War
Using extensive archive footage, Jeremy Paxman explores the lasting effect the First World War had on our nation. Suitable for teaching students aged 11-16.
World War One Centenary Season
Explore this extensive collection of resources from the BBC wide season of programming commemorating the centenary of World War One.
The Story Durham
Learning Zone- Website
This section contains information about archive education services at The Story Durham.
Web units
Our online resources cover a range of topics, are closely tied to the National Curriculum and include teachers’ notes and explanations of the sources used.
First World War workshops
We offer workshops for groups of all ages and cover many different aspects of the war, including researching a local soldier and the Home Front. For more information, see our First World War workshops page.
Other school workshops
Visits to the Record Office are a great way to add depth and interest to any topic. As well as our First World War sessions, we offer workshop on a host of topics, including local history, World War 2 and suffragettes. Every visit is individual and tailored to your specific needs.
We are always willing to come out to schools with copies of our documents. These sessions often prove a good alternative where a visit to the The Story Durham is not practical.
Resources for schools
Our new resource packs, covering all five Key Stages, include lesson plans, whiteboard activities, and laminated copies of documents.
We also have a range of costumes and traditional toys to support activities in our school workshops.
For further information please contact the Learning team at learning@thestorydurham.org
Hamilton Brookes
Have a number of downloadable Teaching plans and activities
KS1 Beyond Living Memory – Commemorating history
Lower KS2 World War One and Two
Upper KS 2 WW2 in Europe and the Battle of Britain
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Our resources can help you learn more about the Holocaust and genocide and plan your own HMD activity. Explore life stories of survivors and those who were murdered, schools materials, activity ideas, films, images and more.
Imperial War Museum
Informative workshops created by the learning team help tackle challenging topics head on, and offer pupils a much more engaging and interactive experience.
Royal British Legion
Remembrance
Remembrance honours those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life. We unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.
The website has a section on Remembrance with various downloadable packs
They have partnered with the National Literacy Trust to create a series of free, downloadable lesson plans and assemblies aimed at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 that can be used to explain to children of different ages and backgrounds why, how and who we Remember.
TES
Some free downloadable resources
Assembly presentations, lesson plans and activity ideas to help pupils to remember fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day
As 11 November approaches and the wearing of poppies becomes commonplace, it’s vital that pupils of all ages understand the meaning and significance of Remembrance Day.
To help you to guide your reflections and commemorate those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, we’ve hand-picked a selection of top resources for early years, KS1 and KS2 classes.
Twinkl
How can I use this KS1 Remembrance Day Activities Pack in class?
Remembrance Day is a significant occasion that marks major historical events involving the whole world.
It is important to teach children about how people, who died in war and service to their country, are remembered on this day.
This Remembrance Day Activities Pack contains display photos to enhance your Remembrance Day classroom display, along with craft instructions on how to make your own poppy, and independent writing and acrostic poem writing frames.
This KS1 Remembrance Day Assembly Pack is perfect for encouraging your KS1 children to think about the sacrifices and changes that war brought about.
This is a Commercial site but there are some free downloadable resources
War Memorials Trust
To find out more about how to engage young people with their war memorial heritage visit, Learn about War Memorials
Between 2011-19 War Memorials Trust had a youth focused Learning Programme to educate young people in schools and youth groups about their war memorial heritage. The aim was to ensure that the future custodians of the UK’s war memorials have the knowledge and skills necessary to help them take an active part in memorial conservation. With the end of the centenary of World War I the charity was no longer able to support an Officer to deliver this Programme but continues to support the website, www.learnaboutwarmemorials.org which has an extensive selection of learning materials for primary and secondary schools as well as youth groups.
