The Windrush generation
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe some of the experiences of the Windrush Generation.
Key learning points
- Britain needed workers to help with the nation's reconstruction and to work in the NHS; many came from the Caribbean.
- The first of these arrived at Tilbury Docks on the 22 June 1948 after a long journey on the SS Empire Windrush.
- Some British people were very unwelcoming and many of these arrivals faced discrimination in housing and employment.
- In 1958, riots broke out in Notting Hill that were motivated by growing racial tension.
- Hundreds of white people attacked the homes of people from the Caribbean and the violence lasted two weeks.
Keywords
Caribbean - the Caribbean is a region of sea and islands off the coast of North, Central and South America
Windrush Generation - the Caribbean migrants that travelled to Britain in the years after the Second World War are known as the Windrush Generation
Discrimination - discrimination means treating someone unfairly because of things such as age, skin colour, or religious beliefs
Riot - when lots of people are violent and disturb the peace it is known as a riot
Common misconception
People from the Caribbean travelled to Britain without being invited.
These people were invited to become British citizens by the government in 1948 to help the country recover and lots had contributed in the armed forces during the war too.
Teacher tip
Use maps or an atlas to get pupils to locate the countries and places mentioned in this lesson and improve geographical knowledge.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Before 1939, lots of working-class children got a disease called...
Q2.Some __________ could pay part of their wages as National Insurance to help them see a doctor if they needed it.
Q3.The Beveridge Report was published in...
Q4.Which government set up a system of benefits known as the welfare state?
Q5.The National Health Service was set up in...
Q6.Which disease was vaccinated against, for free, in the 1950s?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.To rebuild Britain after WWII, the country needed lots more...
Q2.The Nationality Act of 1948 gave...
Q3.The passenger ship that brought many Caribbean people to Britain in 1948 was called the Empire...
Q4.Why was life tough for early Caribbean immigrants?
Q5.A high number of people from the Caribbean ended up settling in an area of London called...
Q6.In Notting Hill, racist ideas and discrimination caused riots there in August...
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: The Windrush generation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: The Windrush generation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Significant turning points: in what ways did Britain change after WWII? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.