Skills

to explore the Second World War from 3 key perspectives:

• Critical thinking.
• Synthesising information from one or more resources.
• Producing clear and coherent texts for different purposes.
• Presenting information and expressing ideas.

Concept

The literacy lessons supporting this resource explore ways in which everyone exists in a social, historical and cultural context. Pupils will be encouraged to seek evidence from many texts, videos and images in order to form their own point of view.

The M Room is much more than a History resource, but capitalises on the sustained interest shown in World War II and builds on pupils’ knowledge of the History curriculum by giving insight into a recently discovered aspect of ‘The Secret War’.

For many people, Churchill's speeches provide a 'soundscape' of the war. With professional video footage and primary source material (some uncovered during filming and shown here for the first time), The M Room resource helps pupils to understand the effects of listening and how it may have affected the leadership of the war.

Links to the Key Stage 4 English National Curriculum

• Planning for different purposes and audiences, including selecting and organising information and ideas effectively and persuasively for formal spoken presentations and debates.
• Planning for different purposes and audiences, including selecting and organising information and ideas effectively.
• Drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience for and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context.
• Writing accurately, fluently, effectively and at length for pleasure and information.
• Listening and responding in a variety of different contexts, both formal and informal, and evaluating content, viewpoints...

Standalone or four-lesson series

The M Room can be taught as a series of four literacy lessons, or teachers may choose to use any of the following plans for a standalone learning experience.

1. Lesson One: Churchill’s Valuable Assets.
2. Lesson Two: Listening and Learning.
3. Lesson Three: King's Walk.
4. Lesson Four: No 1 Distribution Centre.