School themes lessons around life in Great War

STUDENTS at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy took part in lessons themed around the First World War and Remembrance Day.

For one morning, nearly all lessons across the school were linked to the centenary of the end of the war.

The idea for the initiative came from history teacher Adam Tomlinson and teachers were also asked to contribute ideas for their own lessons.

In PE, students took part in military fitness; in maths they examined code-breaking; in Science they studied mustard gas and Spanish flu; in English they studied Wilfred Owen’s poems; in art they recreated an Angie Lewin painting; in food tech they made Anzac biscuits and in design technology they looked at planes and tanks.

Mr Tomlinson said: “The idea came as it’s 100 years since the end of WW1. We always have the two minutes of silence for Remembrance Day but I felt that pupils needed to connect with WW1: what it was like, what happened in the war, especially with this being such a crucial year and potentially the last year major celebrations will be held. We co-ordinated a program across the curriculum. For example English could cover poetry from WW1, religious studies discussing the moral and ethics of war and history focused on women in WW1.

“During form time throughout the week, Thought for the Day emphasised the importance of remembrance, the history of the poppy appeal and what kind of support they provide. On the Friday we were inspired by Earl Gray’s quote on how the lights are going out and they wouldn’t see them lit again. At form time, to represent the darkness of war being replaced by the light of peace, we lit a candle and prayed for each other, our nation and our world.

“The lessons were fantastic. Teachers really got into the spirit of the morning and all subjects embraced the challenge with excellent imagination. Pupils were still talking about the lessons after lunch and following days.”