World War 2 (Upper KS2) Topic Enrichment Pack

Explore the impact and legacy of World War Two with this inspiring cross-curricular pack, designed to ignite curiosity and creativity in your Year 5/6 classroom. The Upper KS2 WW2 Topic Enrichment Pack includes seven engaging lessons across Computing, DT, Geography, and Music—each thoughtfully created to enhance your History teaching while building essential skills across the wider curriculum.

Your class will:

• Learn about the importance of ciphers and create a ciphered code using formulae
• Research, make and design a prototype for a commemorative space or item
• Use maps to find out how the alliances of World War 2 changed over time and describe the geography of key battlegrounds
• Recognise the importance of music for morale during World War 2.

Whether you’re looking to enrich your existing World War 2 topic or deliver a mini cross-curricular project, this pack provides everything you need—lesson plans, slides, activity sheets and resources—ready to download and teach.

Why not upgrade to our World War 2 (UKS2) Topic Bundle – perfect if you're looking for a cross-curricular approach to your teaching.

Creating and Using Ciphers

In this World War Two Computing KS2 lesson, children are introduced to the importance of ciphers, secret messages and code-breaking during World War Two.

Children will learn about the context of code-breaking during World War Two, including Bletchley Park, Alan Turing and the Engima Machines. Children will recap how to enter, organise and manipulate data in a spreadsheet before using their knowledge to create their own ciphers. Children then use their ciphers to decrypt coded words and messages.

This World War Two Computing lesson pack includes everything you need to teach your class about code breaking and ciphers during World War Two. The lesson pack includes a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities, an engaging slideshow with modelled examples and printable resources to support your class with their independent activities.

View Computing Lesson 1

Using Formulae to Create Ciphers

This World War Two Computing lesson builds on children's understanding of spreadsheets and teaches children how to use formulae to create more complex ciphers.

In this lesson, children learn how to input basic formulae into a spreadsheet in order to create sets of random numbers and letters. They then use this to send and decrypt coded World War Two-themed words to one another. Alternatively, children play a fun game similar to ‘battleships’ in which they use a spreadsheet to generate a randomised set of coordinates.

This complete lesson comes with everything you need to teach your class how to use formulae to create ciphers, including a detailed lesson plan, PDF lesson slides and printable resources.

View Computing Lesson 2

Commemorative Design

In this lesson, children will learn about the different ways we can commemorate the past before researching and designing a space or product that commemorates an individual, group or event associated with World War Two.

Children first learn how to develop a design brief and to set their own design criteria before creating an annotated sketch to communicate the ideas for their design.

This lesson comes with everything you need to guide your class through the research and design process, including a detailed lesson plan, PDF lesson slides and printable resources.

View DT Lesson 1

Commemorative Prototypes

In this lesson, children create a prototype for their commemorative product.

They will learn about the importance of creating a plan of work to guide the making process and have an opportunity to create their own before they begin to construct their prototype. Alternatively, children can use CAD software to create a digital prototype of a commemorative space for their local area.

This lesson pack has everything you need to make and evaluate prototypes with your class, including: a detailed lesson plan, PDF lesson slides with modelled examples and printable resources to support children in their independent work.

View DT Lesson 2

Maps of World War Two

Help children appreciate the diverse nature of the battlegrounds and warfare during World War Two and consolidate their understanding of physical and human geography.

Children will learn how to use atlases and geographical information systems to locate countries. They will also learn how to interpret the thematic maps provided to identify changes in alliances and territorial shifts over the course of the war.

This lesson pack comes with all of the resources you need to model the use of atlases and geographical information systems with your class, including PDF lesson slides, a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities, printable recipes and resources.

View Geography Lesson 1

Battlegrounds of World War Two

In this lesson, children will look in depth at the geography of the battleground in Imphal, northern India, where Allied and Axis forces clashed during World War Two. Then, children will research other key battlegrounds before applying their understanding by creating their own news reports.

This instantly downloadable lesson pack comes with everything you need to support your children's learning: a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities, PDF slideshow, and printable resources.

View Geography Lesson 2

The Music of World War Two

In this lesson, children will reflect on how music was used during the war to keep up morale for the soldiers and for the people at home.

They will be introduced to Vera Lynn and how her songs inspired hope for people during the war. The children have the opportunity to listen and appraise the songs and recreate them in the classroom.

This lesson pack comes with everything you need to develop your children's map skills, including: a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities, informative slideshow and engaging, printable resources.

View Music Lesson 1