This week, our Year 6 pupils have been transported back to the 1940s as they’ve immersed themselves in the fascinating and emotional experiences of children evacuated during World War II. In preparation for writing their own evacuee diaries next week, the children have thrown themselves into a range of activities designed to help them understand what life was really like for those young evacuees.

Through hot-seating tasks, pupils took on the roles of children leaving their homes, parents saying goodbye at the train station, and even hosts welcoming evacuees into the countryside. These drama activities helped everyone to explore the emotions of fear, excitement, and uncertainty that evacuees might have felt.

The class also spent time researching what evacuation meant and why it was necessary. They created detailed fact files, discovering everything from the contents of an evacuee’s suitcase to the differences between city and countryside life during wartime.

It has been wonderful to see the empathy, curiosity, and enthusiasm the children have shown throughout this topic. Their thoughtful discussions and creative ideas show just how deeply they have connected with the experiences of wartime children.

We can’t wait to read their evacuee diaries next week, where they’ll bring all their learning, imagination, and emotion together to tell the stories of children living through one of the most remarkable times in history.