The Blitz KS2
Teaching the Blitz in KS2?
This guide explains what the Blitz was, why it happened, how it affected everyday life in Britain, and how you can help your class explore this important World War Two topic through ready-to-teach history lessons.
PlanBee’s World War 2 schemes include dedicated Life During the Blitz lessons for both Lower KS2 and Upper KS2, so you can choose the version that best fits your class.
Ready-to-teach Blitz KS2 lessons
Lower KS2: Life During the Blitz
Our World War 2 Lower KS2 scheme includes Lesson 4: Life During the Blitz. This is ideal for Year 3 and Year 4 classes exploring the key events and experiences of World War Two in an age-appropriate way.
The complete Lower KS2 WW2 series includes seven lessons covering the start of World War Two, the war effort, rationing, the Blitz, evacuation, the Holocaust and historical research.
View the Lower KS2 Blitz lesson
Upper KS2: Life during the Blitz
Our World War 2 Upper KS2 scheme also includes Lesson 4: Life during the Blitz. This version is well suited to Year 5 and Year 6 pupils who are ready to explore the causes, impact and historical significance of the Blitz in greater depth.
The complete Upper KS2 series includes seven lessons covering the causes of WW2, the war effort, rationing, the Blitz, evacuation, the Holocaust and historical enquiry.
View the Upper KS2 Blitz lesson
What was the Blitz?
The Blitz was a period of intense bombing raids on Britain during World War Two. It began in September 1940 and continued into 1941. The word “Blitz” comes from the German word “Blitzkrieg”, meaning “lightning war”.
During the Blitz, German planes attacked British towns and cities, including London, Coventry, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol and Plymouth. Many raids took place at night. The aim was to damage important buildings, factories, docks and transport links, as well as to frighten the people of Britain and weaken morale.
Why teach the Blitz in KS2?
The Blitz is a powerful topic for KS2 children because it helps them understand how World War Two affected ordinary people, not just soldiers and politicians. It gives pupils the chance to explore questions such as:
- Why were British cities bombed during World War Two?
- What was life like for children during the Blitz?
- How did people protect themselves during air raids?
- What was the blackout?
- How did communities respond after bombing raids?
- What can photographs, posters and eyewitness accounts tell us about the past?
What happened during an air raid?
When enemy aircraft were spotted, air-raid sirens warned people to take shelter. Families might hurry to an Anderson shelter in the garden, a Morrison shelter inside the home, a public air-raid shelter or, in London, an Underground station.
During raids, searchlights scanned the sky for enemy planes and anti-aircraft guns fired from the ground. The noise, darkness and uncertainty made air raids frightening, especially for children.
After a raid, people often returned to find damaged homes, streets, schools and workplaces. Firefighters, rescue workers, air-raid wardens and volunteers all played important roles in helping communities recover.
Life during the Blitz
Life during the Blitz changed everyday routines. Many children were evacuated from cities to the countryside, while others stayed at home and continued going to school when they could. Families had to follow blackout rules, covering windows and keeping lights hidden so enemy pilots could not easily identify towns and cities from the air.
People carried gas masks, listened carefully for sirens and kept emergency supplies ready. Despite the danger and disruption, many people continued to work, queue for food, help neighbours and repair damaged buildings.
Teaching ideas for the Blitz KS2
When teaching the Blitz to KS2 children, it can help to use a mixture of sources and activities. You could ask pupils to:
- study photographs of bomb-damaged streets and generate historical questions;
- compare different types of air-raid shelters;
- write a diary entry from the point of view of a child during an air raid;
- create a blackout poster explaining the rules;
- discuss how the Blitz affected children, families and communities;
- use evidence to make inferences about life on the Home Front.
What is included in PlanBee’s Blitz KS2 lessons?
Both the Lower KS2 and Upper KS2 World War 2 schemes include a dedicated lesson on life during the Blitz. Each lesson is ready to teach and includes the planning and resources you need to help children explore this topic clearly and sensitively.
Depending on the lesson version you choose, resources may include:
- a detailed lesson plan;
- a slideshow for the teaching input;
- differentiated activities;
- printable worksheets and supporting resources;
- historical source work and discussion prompts.
Choose your Blitz KS2 lesson
For Year 3 and Year 4
Choose the World War 2 Lower KS2 Life During the Blitz lesson for a clear, accessible introduction to the Blitz as part of a wider World War Two history topic.
For Year 5 and Year 6
Choose the World War 2 Upper KS2 Life during the Blitz lesson for a more developed enquiry into the causes, impact and significance of the Blitz.
Explore more World War 2 KS2 resources
If you are teaching a full World War Two topic, both schemes include seven complete lessons covering key aspects of the war and life on the Home Front. You can buy individual lessons or choose the complete series for a fully planned sequence of work.
