Today we went to The Museum of Kent Life
To take part in a World War Two themed day
We were part of a Home Educators group
Alongside classes from lots of different schools
The day was filled with activities
Each one led by a different person
In a different location
Teaching us about a different aspect
Of life in Britain
During the Second World War
The day before our visit
I spent a bit of time with Esther and William
Talking about the war
We watched some videos on You Tube
And we read some information on Twinkl
We will be using the Twinkl Blitz resources
To extend our learning after our trip
I love history
And the World Wars I am particularly passionate about
I think it is important for our children to know about
Our history
And as a military child
Our military history has always been close to my heart
I was really proud of Esther and William today
They joined in with all the sessions
Asked lots of questions
And as Daddy had very kindly kept Bea
We were able to talk together
And learn together
We really did have a wonderful day
The first session we attended
Was all about the Home Guard
We learned about who might have been in the guard
Why it existed
And what the Home Guard did
The session was well led and held Esther and William’s attention well
They especially loved learning to march
And seeing a genuine WW2 rifle
Esther was brave enough to hold it
Though the weapon was bigger than her!
Our second session was the Evacuation Experience
Esther and William had watched photos and videos about children being evacuated
The day before
And Esther remembered that the children were labelled
Like parcels
We talked about what the evacuees were allowed to take with them
In their suitcases
Esther and William found it very sad that children were not allowed to take cuddly toys
And they decided that their favourite books
Were The Worst Witch and Astrosaurs
Esther and William were incredibly emotionally involved with this session
And had to be reassured a number of times
That they were not going to be sent away
Though they were more keen to be evacuated
After writing a letter home
From their new wartime home
With Farmer Nick!
After being evacuated we went to learn about RAF Navigation
As this involved maps and compasses
Esther and William were much more in their comfort zone
And in fact I was incredibly proud
That they were able to identify and position
The points on a compass
Esther was really confident at pointing to South West, North East etc
William was really interested in seeing how the RAF used radar
To find and fight enemy planes
Esther enjoyed being an enemy plane!
This was a good session
It introduced Esther and William to angles and bearings
Something we can now explore much more
Capitalising on William’s obsession with maps!
After navigation training
It was off to join the ARP
Air Raid Precaution team
We met a very friendly warden
Who told us all about the work of the ARP
Esther and William loved shouting out
‘Put That Light Out’
As they learned about the black out
They also enjoyed being part of a water chain
Fighting a fire
Again I was so pleased and proud
That they were so willing to get up
And join in
Esther and William loved their day of learning today
And so did I
Before a break for lunch
We had a go at rag rug making
And we got to bring our little samples home
Learning about clothes rationing
And Make Do and Mend
Made us realise how very lucky we are today
Esther and William were really focused in this creative, practical session
Using a very sharp tool called a Bodger
To thread rags through Hessian to make a rug
What a fabulous experience we shared
A great activity for developing fine motor skills too!
Esther, William and I ate our lunch outside
A picnic at the play park
Before tractor driving fun
After lunch we went on a 1940s bus
Before heading to the chapel
To learn about food in World War Two
We learned about rationing
Dig For Victory
Shopping in the forties
And recipes too
William was horrified at the amount of cheese
People were given during rationing
How was anyone to survive with that?
Our final session was a look round a 1940s house
And a visit to some wartime shops
Where the children were all delighted
To be given a precious, rationed lollipop
We loved looking at the Anderson Shelter
And thinking about hiding there from the bombs
During The Blitz
We are all now looking forward
To more reading and learning and exploring
About the war
We especially want to think about the children of the war
It made me very tearful today
That 55000 evacuated children
Had no family or home to return to after the war
55000
So very sad
It also made me think about current refugee children around the world
And how I need to make sure Esther and William understand
That though life is much easier for us now
It is not the case for many many children in their lifetime
Today was a wonderful day
We went to The Museum of Kent Life
To take part in a World War Two themed day
We were part of a Home Educators group
Alongside classes from lots of different schools
The day was filled with activities
Each one led by a different person
In a different location
Teaching us about a different aspect
Of life in Britain
During the Second World War
It taught us this
And so much more
Today was a wonderful day
I love the logic of being an evacuated to the farm here in Cornwall, what a logical choice for them to make, away from London and somewhere they know. Part of a wonderful day, I can’t imagine a better way to learn about world war two, if only every school class could visit too.
This museum reminds me very much of one we have here in Cardiff (St Fagan’s), which we love visiting. Seeing and experiencing things for yourself is the best way to learn and it looks like your two had plenty of fun into the bargain!
Amazing! It’s so tempting to take my kids out of school and actually have a life with them rather than fretting about nonsense words and Biff and Chip books. Well done to you for actually doing it.