New
New
Year 1

Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s

I can use photographs to describe some features of 1940s and 50s Britain.

New
New
Year 1

Photographs of Britain in the 1940s and 50s

I can use photographs to describe some features of 1940s and 50s Britain.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Looking at photographs of Britain from the 1940s and 1950s can tell us a lot about that time.
  2. Photographs of bomb damage and new types of housing can tell us about the effects of the Second World War.
  3. Photographs of kitchens can show us what life at home was like in the 1950s.
  4. Photographs of busy streets in London and Leeds can tell us about the sorts of transport people used.
  5. All of these photographs can tell us about things that have changed or stayed the same since these times.

Keywords

  • Second World War - the Second World War was a war between lots of countries around the world that took place between 1939 and 1945

  • Prefabricated - prefabricated houses are built in a factory and then transported to the final location on a lorry

  • Transport - transport is the method by which people or goods are moved from one place to another

Common misconception

The Second World War was happening in the 1950's.

Explain to the children that the Second World War ended half way through the 1940's. In the 1950's people and cities were recovering from the effects of the war. New houses, technology and transport was available.

If possible find some old photographs of the school or local area to share with the pupils. Discuss what has changed and what is the same.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

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

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following countries are in Britain?
Spain
Correct answer: England
Correct answer: Scotland
Correct answer: Wales
France
Q2.
Put the dates in order.
1 - 1930
2 - 1940
3 - 1950
4 - 1960
Q3.
What is an historian?
Correct answer: someone who learns and writes about the past
someone who learns and writes about mathematics
someone who learns and writes about medicine
Q4.
Photographs are created using a ...
Correct answer: camera.
toaster.
lawn mower.
paint brush.
Q5.
Photographs can tell us about ...
Correct answer: the past
the present
the future
Q6.
Match the word to the meaning.
Correct Answer:photography,the process of taking a photo

the process of taking a photo

Correct Answer:photograph,a picture created by a camera

a picture created by a camera

Correct Answer:photographer,someone who takes photographs

someone who takes photographs

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following types of transport were popular in the 1950s?
Correct answer: tram
Correct answer: bus
electric cars
Correct answer: cars
horse and cart
Q2.
What is a prefabricated house?
Correct answer: a house made in a factory
a house made in the sea
a house made in the forest
Q3.
Which items were popular in a 1950s kitchen?
Correct answer: electric kettle
Correct answer: fridge
air fryer
microwave
Correct answer: hob
Q4.
Why were lots of new houses needed quickly in Britain during the 1940s?
Correct answer: Bombs from the Second World War had destroyed many houses.
An earthquake had destroyed many houses.
A big flood had destroyed many houses.
Q5.
Photographs help historians to learn about ...
Correct answer: the past
the future
the present
Q6.
Put the events in order.
1 - Queen Victoria died.
2 - The Second World War
3 - Queen Elizabeth II became Queen.

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