"Aliens"
“This has made me very enthusiastic about learning about the past more now that we have done this.”
Year 6 Girl
This resource is all about the story of “Aliens” in WW1. “Aliens” were mostly people of German heritage who were living in Britain and/or born in Britain. They experienced internment and prejudice. Germany also interned “aliens” and that story is explored too.
Sheffield Hallam University funded this resource based on Professor Mathew Stibbe’s research. Originally created as a resource in 2015, it was updated in 2020 after five years of trailling and finding new primary sources. Having original material from across the country it is a truly national resource tackling this sensitive and interesting story.
Year 6 Girl
This resource is all about the story of “Aliens” in WW1. “Aliens” were mostly people of German heritage who were living in Britain and/or born in Britain. They experienced internment and prejudice. Germany also interned “aliens” and that story is explored too.
Sheffield Hallam University funded this resource based on Professor Mathew Stibbe’s research. Originally created as a resource in 2015, it was updated in 2020 after five years of trailling and finding new primary sources. Having original material from across the country it is a truly national resource tackling this sensitive and interesting story.
Stonelow Junior School (picture above) generously gave curriculum time with their year six group.
Hannah Wharton, the Year 6 teacher from Stonelow Junior School said this about the work:
“The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about British internees in Germany during WW1. Over the past four weeks, this project has been highly successful in igniting an interest and passion in history even amongst some of my most unenthusiastic learners.
This project presented information and used resources in highly imaginative ways to create lessons which the children found exciting and intriguing. Through drama, poetry and analysing a range of primary source material this deepened children’s understanding of life during WW1 and enabled them to develop empathy as they explored the various forms of discrimination that existed between the Germans and the British. As much of the content used was related to Sheffield, this allowed children to make connections on a personal level providing them with an insight into how local history fits into a wider European and world history.
Children were highly motivated by opportunities to ask and answer challenging questions. They were encouraged and expected to think critically in an environment in which no answer was the ‘wrong answer’. As a result, they were animated, highly reflective and thoughtful when they talked about the past. The children were able to not just develop a strong historical knowledge and understanding of WW1 but also develop an ability to investigate, consider, reflect and review the events of the past even when presented with conflicting evidence.
This project effectively provides opportunities for cross-curricular links creating a stimulus to captivate children and produce high level writing. Through examining World War 1 documents, children were exposed to challenging language which stretched and broadened their vocabulary. This was reflected in extended writing opportunities that were successfully completed after each session.
The children have been 100% engaged in every activity and challenge presented to them and were sad when the project came to an end. You have roused a passion for history amongst the entire class who are now desperate to find out more.
Thank you for such a captivating and thought-provoking experience.”
Hannah Wharton, the Year 6 teacher from Stonelow Junior School said this about the work:
“The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about British internees in Germany during WW1. Over the past four weeks, this project has been highly successful in igniting an interest and passion in history even amongst some of my most unenthusiastic learners.
This project presented information and used resources in highly imaginative ways to create lessons which the children found exciting and intriguing. Through drama, poetry and analysing a range of primary source material this deepened children’s understanding of life during WW1 and enabled them to develop empathy as they explored the various forms of discrimination that existed between the Germans and the British. As much of the content used was related to Sheffield, this allowed children to make connections on a personal level providing them with an insight into how local history fits into a wider European and world history.
Children were highly motivated by opportunities to ask and answer challenging questions. They were encouraged and expected to think critically in an environment in which no answer was the ‘wrong answer’. As a result, they were animated, highly reflective and thoughtful when they talked about the past. The children were able to not just develop a strong historical knowledge and understanding of WW1 but also develop an ability to investigate, consider, reflect and review the events of the past even when presented with conflicting evidence.
This project effectively provides opportunities for cross-curricular links creating a stimulus to captivate children and produce high level writing. Through examining World War 1 documents, children were exposed to challenging language which stretched and broadened their vocabulary. This was reflected in extended writing opportunities that were successfully completed after each session.
The children have been 100% engaged in every activity and challenge presented to them and were sad when the project came to an end. You have roused a passion for history amongst the entire class who are now desperate to find out more.
Thank you for such a captivating and thought-provoking experience.”
Download the resource from the tes learning resource page here :
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aliens-on-the-homefront-during-ww1-12424411
Download the resource from the tes learning resource page here :
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aliens-on-the-homefront-during-ww1-12424411
