Diamond 9: Why did the RAF win the Battle of Britain in 1940?

This great diamond 9 activity has been designed to help students assess the different factors which helped the RAF win the Battle of Britain in 1940. It can be used to help prepare students for an assessment or to extend their critical thinking skills and understanding of the topic. It is designed to be used with the higher range of ability students and to work alongside any main stream text book or video on this topic. For those who are busy or don’t have access to these resources, I have included two suitable links to video clips on YouTube. You can also download a detailed PowerPoint and worksheet on the Battle of Britain from our TES shop along with a SEND and mainstream version of this card sort.Alternatively, you can buy them all in a discounted bundle.

When you purchase this resource you will be able to download a fully editable Microsoft Word document which can be differentiated further if you wish. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include one of the key reason why the RAF won the Battle of Britain. Once students have cut the cards out, they are set three tasks including:

1. Remove any problems that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them.
2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between them. Record and explain your reasons.
3. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons explaining why the RAF won the Battle of Britain in 1940? Record and explain your reasons.

At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class to explain their choices in order to develop the critical analysis and thinking skills that this type of activity is designed to help develop. Once students have sorted the cards, you can extend their understanding further by discussing which factor played the most important role in helping the RAF win the Battle of Britain as preparation for an extended writing exercise.

The aims and objectives of this lesson are:

Theme: The Second World War
Know: Why did the RAF win the Battle of Britain?
Understand: What factors helped the RAF win the Battle of Britain?
Evaluate: Which factor was the most important?
Skills: Cause, Consequence & Collaboration

WILF – What Am I Looking For?
Identify & describe: Why the RAF won the Battle of Britain?
Explain: What factors helped the RAF win the Battle of Britain?
Analyse: Which was the most important factor?

If you are looking for similar resources then please check out our TES shop. If you would like to stay up to date with our latest offerings, then you can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal.

Kind Regards

Roy