Post war migration to Britain: The Windrush generation
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can recall that Caribbean migrants came to work in Britain in the 1950s and made many contributions to Britain.
Key learning points
- After WW2, there was a significant labour shortage, so the government invited people from the Commonwealth to work.
- The 1948 Nationality Act created 'Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies' who could move to Britain.
- Many workers from the Caribbean arrived in 1948 on the Empire Windrush.
- Many of the Windrush generation took up roles in transport or as nurses, making important cultural contributions.
- Caribbean immigrants from Britain experienced significant racism and discrimination.
Keywords
Commonwealth - an international organisation consisting of states which once belonged to the British Empire
Socio-economic - the combination of social and economic factors or conditions influencing or related to a particular group, community or society
Common misconception
The Empire Windrush brought all Caribbean migrants to Britain.
The Empire Windrush brought the first group of Caribbean migrants to Britain.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to see the arrival of the Empire Windrush as just the beginning of the story of Caribbean migration to Britain.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Decolonisation of the British Empire happened rapidly as a result of the impacts on Britain of this war.' Which war?
Q2.What word means to divide a country into parts?
Q3.Which country gained full control of the Suez Canal in 1956?
Q4.Which former British colony in Africa was made independent in 1957?
Q5.For what act of colonial oppression in its past did the British government apologise for in 2013?
Q6.Match these people with their relevant countries.
India
Pakistan
Egypt
Ghana
Kenya
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word describes an international organisation of states which once belonged to the British Empire?
Q2.In which year was the British Nationality Act passed?
Q3.Which event marked the beginning of mass immigration from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom?
Q4.Many people from the Windrush generation worked in which areas?
Q5.Into which port did the Empire Windrush arrive?
Q6.A carnival linked to the resilience and cultural contribution of the Windrush generation is held in which west London district?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Post war migration to Britain: The Windrush generation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Post war migration to Britain: 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 4 history lessons from the Britain: Migration, empires and the people - c790 to the present day unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.