LKS2 Topic: WW2: A Child’s Eye View from the Home Front Block C: The Battle of Britain
Learn about the threat of German invasion in the summer of 1940 and how this led to the Battle of
Britain that raged over the coast of England between July and October of that year.
Block A: WW2: The Battle
of Britain [4 sessions]
By the end of this block you
can expect the following
outcomes:
Session 1: History and D&T
Hitler Plans to Invade Britain
Discover how Britain was on
the brink of invasion in July
1940 as Hitler made plans for
Operation Sealion. Learn what
newly elected Prime Minister
Winston Churchill planned to
do about it. Create some
model fighter planes from
recycled materials.
Session 2: History and D&T
Blue Birds Over the White
Cliffs of Dover
Find out what part the Kent
coastline played in The Battle
of Britain and why it was so
dear to the hearts of British
people. Build a large 3D model
of it from recycled materials
ready to display the model
fighter planes. Listen to Vera
Lynn’s famous song.
Session 3: History and D&T
Spitfires, Hurricanes and
Messerschmitts
Learn more about the fighter
planes and their pilots and
paint the models made so far.
Main Outcome: History
Other outcomes: D&T

Develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British and
World history – the events that led to The Battle of Britain.
 Address historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity, difference and
significance.
 Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the
knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of
designing and making.
Children will:
 Place significant events on a Timeline.
 Understand the events that led up to the Battle of Britain – the threat of a German
invasion and Winston Churchill’s plans to defend Britain from attack.
 Either investigate Hitler and Churchill’s plans in more detail or begin to model
Battle of Britain fighter planes using drinks bottles and papier maché.
Children will:
 Understand the events that led to The Battle of Britain.
 Begin to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the Luftwaffe and the
RAF as the battle began.
 Learn about the iconic significance of the White Cliffs of Dover for pilots defending
Britain from invasion and in the hearts of British people.
 Either create a large scale model the Kent coastline in papier maché and recycled
materials or work on increasing knowledge of the fighter planes used by each side
in The Battle of Britain.
Children will:
 Learn how the Battle of Britain was fought and what advantages there were on
each side.
 Find out more about the fighter planes used by German and British pilots.
 Paint either a Battle of Britain fighter plane or the model of the Kent coastline
created last session.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
LKS2 Topic: WW2: A Child’s Eye View from the Home Front Block C: The Battle of Britain
Session 4: History and D&T
Britain is Saved from Invasion
Complete your large 3D display
of The Battle of Britain by
wiring your planes with
electrical circuits that power
their propellers. Set them in
dogfight scenarios in your
landscape and reflect on
Churchill’s famous words
“Never … was so much owed
by so many to so few”.
Children will:
 Wire up their model planes with electrical circuits containing a switch and power a
propeller.
 Arrange the Spitfires and Messerschmitts planes in the model of the Kent coastline
as a Battle of Britain scene.
 Hear Churchill’s famous words and reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of the RAF
Battle of Britain pilots.
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Timeline resource. Session 1 PowerPoint; Card sort Activity Sheet (1 between 2 for Hard/ Med
group); Task sheet (one each for Hard/ Med group); Instructions for modelling Fighter planes (1
between 2 for Easy/ Med group).
You will need: 500ml water bottles (1 bet. 2 for Easy/Med gp) pre-cut with a cockpit hole and slit in base,
see instruction 1; Stiff card (recycled from box packaging) for tailpieces and wings (it is suggested that
before the lesson card templates are made of the 3 plane pieces in instruction 2 to make it easier);
Masking tape; Newspaper torn into strips; Pots of PVA diluted half and half with water; Brushes.
Session 2
Provided: Session 2 PowerPoint; Session 2 Task sheet (1st page) copied onto A3 paper (1 per child in Med/ Easy
group); Session 2 Prompt Sheet (2nd page) copied onto A4 paper (1 per child in Med/ Easy group); Session 2
modelling instructions.
You will need: Scissors; Glue sticks; 2 or more large cardboard boxes depending on the length of your display
space (to model your coastline); A range of recycled packaging, e.g. tubs, cartons, cereal boxes and packets;
Several pots of PVA glue diluted half and half with water; Chunky brushes (1 per ch) for gluing PVA; Plenty of
torn strips of newspaper and a roll of kitchen paper.
Session 3
Provided: Colour printout of the session resource “Battleometer” with the arrowed map trimmed and backed
onto card; Colour printout of the Sorting Facts cut into strips.
You will need: Sticky tack; Scissors; Colour printouts of the Plane Reference Sheet (one per plane you have
modelled); Acrylic paints; Mixing pallets; Paint brushes; Water pots; Sticky labels; Pencils; Circular items of
different sizes, e.g. coins, caps, buttons; Felt tipped pens for drawing insignia (permanent pens give a great
finish and do not fade or smudge easily).
Session 4
Provided: Session 4 PowerPoints; Task sheet.
You will need: Your model planes and finished landscape; A large sewing needle; A knitting needle; Black
masking tape; For each plane you have made you will need: a propeller, a battery (in a holder), a motor, a
switch; A reel of insulated electrical copper wire; Wire strippers; Barbeque skewers; Sticky tack.
© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘Links’)
have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton
Trust’s knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton
Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links,
changed such Links and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you use.
Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.