'The Evacuees' - Role Play

Preparation for Air Raid Drama Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

To understand what if was like to live during the Second World War

Key Concepts

• Empathy
• Imagination

Learning Outcomes

Participation in the living history workshop ‘Evacuees’

Introduction

This session is designed to prepare children for role play during the Evacuee day on the railway

Time

Allow 45 minutes for this activity

Resources

Click here to download your pdf situation card templates

• Children need to be in groups of about 5.
• Each group will need one prop (see resources).
• ask each group to discuss the following:
  1. What kind of person might use the prop
  2. How old would they be?
  3. How would they move?
  4. How would they talk?
• After 5 minutes hand out one situation card to each group (see resources).
• Ask each group to work on a short story with a beginning, middle & end. The story should last only about 2 minutes. They should discuss which role they play & where the story takes place. Allow 15 minutes for this activity, with a clear warning after 10 minutes. Each group needs to produce something even if it is very rough.
• Ask each group in turn to act out their story to the rest of the class. The audience should be observant and give positive feedback.
• Talk about role play with the class and how it will benefit their day on the railway as evacuees.