This pack supports our Danger UXB school visits, and is intended to be used to provoke small group discussion about the Blitz, although it could be equally also be used as a comprehension exercise.
As such, it should provide some excellent speaking, listening, and reading opportunities. It can easily be used to support teaching of the WW2 topic, linked to either the ‘local history’ or ‘significant events.’

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Topic 1:
                                     AIR RAID SHELTERS BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
 
During the Blitz, a survey in Wales revealed that only 1/3rd of people used air raid shelters, with many choosing to stay in their homes in bed.
 
 
                                            DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER OR GROUP:
 
1. Why do you think people chose not to use air raid shelters?
2. Would you use the shelter? Why?
3. If you could go back in time, what would you say to persuade people to use the shelters?
 

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Topic 2:
                                     AIR RAID WARDENS BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
 
 
Air Raid Wardens were responsible for issuing gas masks, getting people into air raid shelters and making sure that people stuck to the rules of the blackout.
However, before the bombs fell, many people didn’t like them.
 
 
                                               
                                                      DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER OR GROUP:
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1. Why do you think people didn’t like the Air Raid Wardens at first? 2. How do you think their opinion changed as the bombs started falling and the blitz began?
3. What skills do you think you would need if you was an Air Raid Warden?

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Topic 3:
                                         THE BLACKOUT BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
 
The blackout law started on 31st August 1939, making all owners of any building black out their windows so that the light wouldn’t shine on the street, from a half hour before it got dark until a half hour before it got light in the morning.
However no bombs fell for seven months, which made a lot of people angry at the blackout rules.
 
                                            DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER OR GROUP:
 
1. Why do you think people were made to blackout their windows?
2. How would you blackout your window?
3. How would you feel when no bombs fell for seven months after blacking out your windows?
 

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​Topic 4:
                               UNEXPLODED BOMBS BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
 
Many bombs fell on the major cities of the UK in WW2, however not all of these exploded. These were called UXBs and caused a lot of trouble and delays as the brave soldiers of the Royal Engineers would spend days finding, digging and defusing them, which means making them safe.
 
 
                                       DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER OR GROUP:
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1. What do you think it would have been like to have to defuse a dangerous bomb?
2. Some of these UXBs were designed by the Germans deliberately not to explode. Why do you think they did this?
3. What would it have been like to have lost your home to a bomb?
 

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Topic 5:
                                  THE ARP SERVICE BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Air Raid Precaution Service was started in 1935, four years before the start of the war.
It included Air Raid Wardens, medical staff and many more people trained to help the public survive air raids.
 
                                      DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNER OR GROUP:
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1. Why do you think the government started the ARP service so early before the war?
2. Do you think this early start helped the British people to survive the war? Why?
3. Which of these ARP jobs would you have preferred to do and why?
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a) Air Raid Warden
b) Ambulance driver
c) Air Raid phone operator?

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