The Blitz Spirit- Interpretations

I used this resource with year 8s to introduce the 'Interpretation' question. You will need to do a lesson on the Blitz before using this resource to get the most out of it. This is a very useful exercise. It introduces a new key GCSE exam skill interpretations (Edexcel), while also grounding it in a significant historical event.

Contents: 2 PowerPoints and a Word document with sources and interpretations for use.

Plan: Pre-teach the Blitz for 1 lesson (not attached)
During the second lesson, drip in the skills attached in PowerPoint labeled assessment-prep-sample. This lesson will require some printing of simplified interpretations to enable students interact with sources. The key idea of the prep is that students begin to combine the 'facts' about the Blitz with two 'Interpretations' of the Blitz. By the end of this lesson students should be able to show evidence that there was, and wasn't, a 'Blitz Spirit', what the differences are in interpretations, why the interpretations are different and form a judgement as to how far they agree with a respective viewpoint.
During the third lesson, use the 'Blitz-Spirit assessment' PowerPoint and word document. Timings are attached. I took near to 50 minutes to explain, manage and execute this assessment. Depending on the type of students you have and exposure they have had to this skill, I'd recommend you do a prep assessment on the 'Big Question' with an alternative lesson. I did this and it helped me greatly I believe. I'd recommend an easy topic that has two clear interpretations that can be easily made into a lesson, eg should Bomber Command have a memorial, was Dunkirk a success, etc

Plenty of easy differentiation can be adapted to this, such as highlighting the key ideas, principals, or changing the language to make it more difficult, including or removing the writing frame.

It would be advisable to also download any attached clips from Youtube that you find useful if the internet is inconsistent in your school.