Winston Churchill KS2
Teach your KS2 pupils about Winston Churchill with this accessible guide to his life, political career and leadership during the Second World War. Discover key Winston Churchill facts for children, explore a simple timeline of his life and consider why his legacy continues to be debated today.
Winston Churchill is best known for serving as Britain’s Prime Minister during most of the Second World War. His speeches and determination helped to encourage the British public during some of the most difficult years in the country’s history.
Need a Winston Churchill lesson?
Download a ready-to-teach Winston Churchill KS2 History lesson exploring the life and legacy of one of Britain's most famous politicians. The lesson includes:
- a detailed lesson plan
- teaching slides
- differentiated activity ideas
- printable resources
Who was Winston Churchill?
Sir Winston Churchill was a British politician, writer, soldier and statesman. He was born on 30 November 1874 at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and died on 24 January 1965.
Churchill served as Prime Minister twice:
- 1940 to 1945, during most of the Second World War
- 1951 to 1955, when he returned to lead the country several years after the war
Although he is remembered most clearly as a wartime leader, Churchill had a long and varied career. He worked as a soldier and war correspondent before becoming a Member of Parliament. He also wrote many books, painted pictures and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.
Portrait of Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill facts for KS2
- His full name was Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill.
- He was born at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in 1874.
- As a young man, he trained as a soldier at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
- He worked as a war correspondent and reported on conflicts in different parts of the world.
- He became a Member of Parliament in 1900.
- During his career, he belonged to both the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.
- He became Prime Minister on 10 May 1940.
- He was 65 years old when he first became Prime Minister.
- He was famous for making powerful speeches during the Second World War.
- He served as Prime Minister for a second time between 1951 and 1955.
- He enjoyed painting and completed hundreds of pictures during his lifetime.
- He died in 1965 at the age of 90.
Winston Churchill timeline
1874: Winston Churchill is born
Winston Churchill was born into a wealthy and influential family at Blenheim Palace. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a politician, while his mother, Jennie Jerome, was American.
1893: Churchill joins Sandhurst
After leaving school, Churchill entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He later served as an officer in the British Army.
1899: Churchill becomes a war correspondent
Churchill travelled to South Africa to report on the Second Boer War. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war but managed to escape. The story of his escape made him famous in Britain.
1900: Churchill becomes an MP
Churchill was elected as the Member of Parliament for Oldham. This marked the beginning of a political career that would last for more than 60 years.
1911: Churchill takes charge of the Royal Navy
Churchill became First Lord of the Admiralty, the government minister responsible for the Royal Navy. He held this important role during the early years of the First World War.
1915: The Gallipoli campaign fails
Churchill supported a plan to attack the Ottoman Empire at Gallipoli during the First World War. The campaign failed and resulted in many casualties. Churchill left the government and later served as a soldier on the Western Front.
1924: Churchill becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer
As Chancellor, Churchill was responsible for the country’s finances. Some of the economic decisions made during this period were unpopular and remain the subject of historical debate.
1939: The Second World War begins
When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, Churchill returned to his former position as First Lord of the Admiralty.
1940: Churchill becomes Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister in May 1940. Churchill took his place at a time when Nazi Germany had invaded several European countries and Britain faced the threat of invasion.
1945: Victory in Europe
Germany surrendered in May 1945. On 8 May, known as VE Day, Churchill announced that the war in Europe was over. However, the Second World War continued in Asia until Japan surrendered in September.
1951: Churchill becomes Prime Minister again
Churchill returned as Prime Minister in 1951. He remained in office until 1955, when he resigned because of his age and declining health.
1965: Winston Churchill dies
Churchill died on 24 January 1965. He was given a state funeral, which was attended by representatives from countries around the world.
Winston Churchill and the Second World War
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister during one of the most dangerous periods in British history. By May 1940, Nazi Germany had invaded much of western Europe and France was close to defeat.
Churchill formed a coalition government containing members of different political parties. He worked closely with military leaders and with Britain’s allies, particularly American President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
Churchill believed that Britain should continue fighting Nazi Germany rather than attempting to negotiate peace. His speeches were designed to prepare the public for the difficulties ahead while encouraging people to remain determined.
Winston Churchill’s famous speeches
Churchill was known for his carefully written and powerfully delivered speeches. Radio allowed his words to reach millions of people across Britain.
Some of his best-known wartime speeches include:
- “Blood, toil, tears and sweat”, delivered shortly after he became Prime Minister in May 1940
- “We shall fight on the beaches”, delivered following the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk in June 1940
- “Their finest hour”, delivered as Britain prepared for the possibility of invasion
- “Never in the field of human conflict”, delivered during the Battle of Britain in August 1940
These speeches can be useful primary sources for KS2 pupils. Children can examine Churchill’s word choices, identify persuasive techniques and consider how listeners might have responded at the time.
Why was Winston Churchill important?
Churchill played an important role in maintaining British resistance to Nazi Germany during the Second World War. His leadership helped Britain continue fighting during 1940 and 1941, before the United States and Soviet Union joined the wider war against Germany.
He also helped to maintain relationships between the Allied countries and took part in important meetings where their leaders discussed military strategy and the future of Europe.
However, Churchill did not win the war alone. Britain’s victory depended on the efforts of millions of service personnel and civilians from Britain, the Commonwealth and Allied nations. Teaching Churchill at KS2 provides an opportunity to explore both individual leadership and the wider contributions made by people around the world.
Winston Churchill waving to crowds on VE Day
Why is Winston Churchill controversial?
Winston Churchill is often celebrated for his leadership during the Second World War, but historians also examine other parts of his career critically.
Churchill was a strong supporter of the British Empire and expressed views about race and imperial rule that are widely considered unacceptable today. His decisions and political positions have also been criticised in relation to events including the Gallipoli campaign, industrial disputes in Britain and the Bengal famine of 1943.
Historians sometimes disagree about the extent of Churchill’s personal responsibility for particular events. This makes him a useful figure through whom KS2 pupils can begin to understand that historical interpretations can differ.
Rather than presenting Churchill simply as either a hero or a villain, children can study evidence from different sources and consider questions such as:
- Why was Churchill admired during the Second World War?
- Which parts of his career have been criticised?
- Can a historical figure make both positive and harmful decisions?
- How might people from different countries or communities view Churchill differently?
- Why do interpretations of important people change over time?
Teaching Winston Churchill at KS2
A Winston Churchill KS2 lesson can support children’s knowledge of World War 2 while developing chronological understanding, historical enquiry and source-analysis skills.
Possible classroom activities include:
- creating a timeline of Churchill’s life and political career
- placing key wartime events in chronological order
- analysing extracts from Churchill’s speeches
- identifying persuasive language and rhetorical techniques
- comparing Churchill with another significant political leader
- writing a newspaper report announcing his appointment as Prime Minister
- exploring different historical interpretations of Churchill
- holding a class discussion about whether Churchill should be described as a hero
Winston Churchill KS2 lesson pack
Teach your class about Churchill’s life, political career and wartime leadership with PlanBee’s ready-to-teach Winston Churchill KS2 lesson.
Children explore important events from Churchill’s life, consider how he may have felt at different moments and investigate his actions during the Second World War. They can then sequence events chronologically or examine extracts from his speeches.
The downloadable lesson includes:
- a detailed lesson plan
- an engaging teaching slideshow
- differentiated learning activities
- printable worksheets and supporting resources
Winston Churchill KS2 questions
Use these questions to assess understanding or begin a class discussion:
- When and where was Winston Churchill born?
- What jobs did Churchill have before becoming Prime Minister?
- Why did Churchill become famous after travelling to South Africa?
- When did Churchill first become Prime Minister?
- What problems was Britain facing in May 1940?
- Why were Churchill’s speeches important during the Second World War?
- Who were the three Allied leaders known as the Big Three?
- What did Churchill announce on VE Day?
- Why did Churchill stop being Prime Minister in 1945?
- Why do some people have different opinions about Churchill today?
Frequently asked questions
Who was Winston Churchill for KS2?
Winston Churchill was a British politician who served as Prime Minister during most of the Second World War. He is remembered for his wartime leadership, speeches and determination to continue fighting Nazi Germany.
When was Winston Churchill Prime Minister?
Churchill served as Prime Minister twice. His first term lasted from 1940 to 1945 and his second lasted from 1951 to 1955.
Why was Winston Churchill famous?
Churchill became famous for leading Britain during the Second World War and delivering speeches that encouraged the public during air raids, military defeats and the threat of invasion.
What did Winston Churchill do during World War Two?
Churchill led Britain’s wartime government, worked with Allied leaders, helped make military and political decisions and communicated regularly with the public through speeches and radio broadcasts.
Did Winston Churchill win the Second World War?
Churchill was an important Allied leader, but no single person won the war. Victory resulted from the combined efforts of millions of military personnel and civilians from Britain, the Commonwealth, the United States, the Soviet Union and many other Allied nations.
Why is Winston Churchill controversial?
Churchill held imperial and racial views that are strongly criticised today. Historians also debate his decisions during events such as the Gallipoli campaign and the Bengal famine. His legacy therefore includes both his wartime leadership and more troubling aspects of his political career.
What can children learn from studying Winston Churchill?
Studying Winston Churchill can help KS2 pupils understand leadership during the Second World War, analyse historical speeches, create timelines and explore why people can interpret the same historical figure in different ways.
