School Workshops
Homing in on the Home Front – WWI
Our uniquely interactive 75 minute Time Travel Theatre performance, Homing in on the Home Front, offers pupils opportunities to explore ways that the War touched on every aspect of life – from the food people ate to the clothes that they wore to the precautions they took against invasion.
Introduction
The programme exists in a range of flexible formats, allowing up to 420 pupils to experience it in a single day! Classes in one-form entry schools will have opportunities to take part in follow-up workshops – while selected pupils in larger schools will have chances to engage in Question and Answer sessions with the actors.
| Year Groups | EYFS-KS2 |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | History |
| Pupil Numbers | 420 pupils per day |
| Duration | 1½ hours – half a day (depending on how many classes) |
| Space | School Hall |
Although they live in the countryside, Ed and Flo Duckworth are still in danger from the enemy planes that fly overhead. So they combine running their farm with “doing their bit” – Flo as an Air Raid Warden and Ed as a private in the local Home Guard. Join them and their friends Vera the Land Girl and Cyril the Spiv as they begin to get used to the huge changes in their lives – including the impending arrival of a couple of evacuees!
There’ll be laughs and tears, singing and dancing as your pupils join these larger than life characters to Make Do and Mend, Save Kitchen Scraps – and Dig for Victory. Not forgetting that Walls Have Ears, of course!
The programme is particularly suited to Keys Stages 2 and 3 / P4 – P7 – but Years 1 and 2 / P2-P3 will get a lot out of it, too. And we always welcome Reception classes / P1 for the first half hour or so!
Outcomes: greater knowledge of the causes and course of World War II; increased understanding of the concept of “total war”; heightened awareness of the roles played by class and gender during the period.
Workshop Testimonials
“Ten out of ten! I was taken aback by just how good the Time Travel Theatre actors were – and by the impacts the workshops had on the pupils!”
“Today, our Jubilee celebrations have included History workshops called ‘Long to Reign Over Us’. We have been learning all about life in Britain over the past seventy years.”
“Year 2 had the most incredible History Day with As Creatives! We spent the whole day being historians and learning so much about significant individuals such as Mary Seacole, Martin Luther King, Queen Elizabeth 2, Rosa Parks & Helen Sharman.”
“Can I just say thank-you for this wonderful workshop that was delivered at our school today. The children had an absolutely amazing time and learnt so much. The children were so convinced that Neil Armstrong had travelled through our time machine that one of children had made! They were so engaged throughout the workshop, asked so many questions and recalled lots of information that was shared with them. We look forward to applying our learning over the next few weeks!
“Thank you from us all for the fantastic workshops – I have had so much positive feedback from the different classes and the content you delivered was spot on for each of the groups.
I was in awe of how easy you made it look, which as a teacher with 20 years experience I don’t say very often! – we will certainly have no hesitation in booking you again in the future.”
“The students gained a great amount of knowledge from the workshop, and enjoyed learning about a different aspect of WWII and VE Day. This has helped Year 6 to have questions answered that we did not get to cover during our WWII topic. It also allowed other pupils to gain further knowledge, or beginning knowledge about the importance of WWII.”
“Thank you so much for making our history day come alive.
The children thoroughly enjoyed their time with you and everyone had high praise for your great knowledge and enthusiasm!”
“Wow, can I just say how fantastic you are. We had a brilliant day and the kids loved it. Thank you for making our history day so special. Thank you once again. Your communication was brilliant and your ideas were super!”
Workshop FAQs
How many pupils can take part in one day?
Homing in on the Home Front can be enjoyed by up to 420 pupils in a single day!
What is the format of the day?
This hilarious and highly interactive presentation is approximately 1 hour and a half. Multiple sessions per day to fit in with your school timetable.
Are there any technical requirements?
Each working space needs to be equipped with laptop/screen/projector, so pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint throughout.
Where will the workshops take place?
These workshops require the use of your school hall.
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