The Home Front in WWI
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the way in which local British communities were affected by WWI.
Key learning points
- While men were sent to the front, the war also had an impact on those who stayed behind.
- The First World War was the first total war: the activities of both soldiers and civilians contributed to it.
- There were shortages of food, more so in the cities, where it was harder for people to grow their own food.
- Women had to work in the fields and the factories to replace the men who had left for the front.
- This led to a big change in the way that women were treated and helped some women win the vote in 1918.
Keywords
Home Front - civilians contributed to the war effort at home in Britain, and this became known as 'the Home Front'
Shortage - a shortage is when there is not enough of something, for example, there were food shortages in WWI
Factories - factories are large buildings in which different goods are made
Vote - a vote gives people a choice as to who they want to represent them in the government
Common misconception
The war was only fought by soldiers and won on battlefields.
Civilians at home did much work to support the war effort and this was known as 'the Home Front'.
Teacher tip
Find out what was happening in your local area for women on the Home Front to provide examples of the types of roles women played during the conflict.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Victoria Cross was awarded for acts of extreme courage.
Q2.How were soldiers rewarded for their contribution to WWI?
Q3.Prestigious means very important and highly respected.
Q4.Where is Noel Chavasse remembered as a local hero?
Q5.Match the correct date to the event in the life of Noel Chavasse.
born
competed in the Olympic Games
awarded first Victoria Cross
awarded second Victoria Cross
died
Q6.Captain Noel Chavasse is remembered on a special memorial .
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How did civilians contribute to the home front in WWI?
Q2.During WWI, there was a serious food on the home front.
Q3.The Women's Army played an important role in providing more food for Britain.
Q4.Why was working in munitions factories dangerous?
Q5.Who did the new law in 1918 give the right to vote to?
Q6.Choose the correct option below to complete the statement: 'Before the First World War the Suffragists and Suffragettes had __________ in their attempts to win women the vote.'
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: The Home Front in WWI, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: The Home Front in WWI, 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 The Great War: how did the Great War affect local people and their communities? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.