New
New
Lesson 2 of 6
  • Year 1

The princess who spoke to the nation

I can explain how Elizabeth used the radio to comfort children during WWII.

Lesson 2 of 6
New
New
  • Year 1

The princess who spoke to the nation

I can explain how Elizabeth used the radio to comfort children during WWII.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Elizabeth first spoke on the radio in 1940.
  2. Her message comforted children away from home.
  3. People listened to the radio but could not see her.
  4. Her words and voice showed care for her future subjects.
  5. Speaking like this was part of her duty.

Keywords

  • Evacuee - a person (often a child) sent away to safety

  • Duty - an important job a person has to do

  • Broadcast - a message sent to many people using radios or television

  • Radio - a machine for hearing voices

  • Voice - the sound we make when we speak

Common misconception

Pupils might think that people could see Elizabeth during her broadcast.

Remind them that television was not ubiquitous at this time in Britain, and the radio broadcast only delivered sound.


To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: The princess who spoke to the nation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To fully bring home the 'feel' of Elizabeth's message, play a short, appropriate 1940s radio clip; pupils could even record or perform their own “message of hope”.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Put the family members in order from oldest to youngest.

1 - great-grandparent
2 - grandparent
3 - parent
4 - child

Q2.
What happened to Elizabeth's home, Buckingham Palace, during World War II?

It was used by people who had lost their homes.
It was used by the Army.
Correct answer: It was bombed.

Q3.
How did people try to make themselves safer during World War II?

Correct answer: they built air-raid shelters
they built vegetable patches in their gardens
they moved from the countryside to the cities
Correct answer: they moved from the cities to the countryside

Q4.
What job did Elizabeth do when she was in the Army?

Correct Answer: mechanic

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the object to the way it delivers information.

Correct Answer:radio,information is heard

information is heard

Correct Answer:television,information is seen

information is seen

Correct Answer:book,information is read

information is read

Q2.
Why were children evacuated from cities at the beginning of World War II?

Correct answer: It was dangerous in the cities as they might be bombed.
Children could have more fun in the countryside.
There wasn't enough food to feed everyone in the cities.

Q3.
How old was Princess Elizabeth when she delivered her first radio broadcast?

4
Correct answer: 14
44

Q4.
Put the events in the correct order.

1 - World War II begins.
2 - Princess Elizabeth and many other children are evacuated from the cities.
3 - Elizabeth delivers a radio broadcast for evacuees.
4 - People are happy to hear Elizabeth's voice on the radio.

Q5.
Match the word to the correct definition.

Correct Answer:radio,a machine for hearing voices

a machine for hearing voices

Correct Answer:broadcast,a message sent to many people using radio or TV

a message sent to many people using radio or TV

Correct Answer:evacuee,a person (often a child) sent away to safety

a person (often a child) sent away to safety

Correct Answer:duty,an important job a person has to do

an important job a person has to do

Correct Answer:voice,the sound we make when we speak

the sound we make when we speak

Q6.
How did Elizabeth's radio broadcast help evacuee children feel better?

Correct answer: It made them feel cared for and safer.
She told them that the war was over.
Elizabeth sang a happy song for everyone.