The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles in history. It took place in Northern France around the River Somme from 1 July to 18 November 1916. Now, a century later, our education pack is designed to help teachers introduce aspects of the Battle of the Somme and the ways in which it is being remembered. The pack contains resources to help students develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the conflict. It covers topics including experiences of the Somme from around the Commonwealth, Pals Battalions, conscription, recruitment and remembrance today. The materials are designed to be flexible and adaptable. They can be used as starting points for individual lessons or activities, or form part of a larger cross- curricular project with a partner school overseas. This resource pack has been developed by the British Council in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, UCL Institute of Education and Big Ideas Company.

British Council has joined forces with The FA, Premier League + Football League to commemorate the 1914 Christmas Truce. The pack includes photos, eye-witness accounts + letters from soldiers. Perspectives from British, French, Belgian, German + Indian witnesses are included with activities for English, language, drama, art, sport, history + moral education. Schools are invited to design a memorial with the winner chosen by The Duke of Cambridge + Arsenal/ England forward Theo Walcott to be built at the National Memorial Arboretum. http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/football-remembers

The armistice to end the First World War was signed between France, Britain, and Germany on 11 November 1918 in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, about 60 km north of Paris. It ended a global conflict in which millions of soldiers and civilians lost their lives. This terrible war touched the lives of men, women and children across the globe and continues to have lasting implications in the world today. You can use the pack to teach your pupils more about the Armistice, to reflect on peace and to plan a commemoration of the centenary of the First World War.

As England battles it out against Australia at Lord’s cricket ground, skills both on and off the field are focused on, revisiting some of the greats of the sport’s history along the way.

A Technicolor study of English pottery, the skill of the potter, and the modern mechanised factories of Wedgwood.

Instead of learning sign-language, deaf children are taught to speak and lip-read so that they might interact with others as easily as possible.

An overview of the progressive facilities at a modern coal mine in Scotland, with an emphasis on the steps taken to ensure worker welfare there.

An amusing and informative introduction to the manufacture of power cables, set to an jaunty musical score.

A Techincolor film exploring the beautiful scenery and famous buildings around Snowdonia, Wales.

A miner with an injured spine is treated in a hospital before being sent to a rehabilitation centre to make a full recovery.

An overview of the industrial landscape of Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on the impact of and contribution to the Allied war effort.

A rendition of the traditional English folksong ‘Widdicombe Fair&’, accompanied by animated drawings.

Exploring the daily life of a large family in Yorkshire, ‘We of the West Riding&’ shows both their work at the textile mills and their varied leisure pursuits.

Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Leicester Square, and Soho during wartime.

A dramatic account of the lifeboatmen of Mousehole in Cornwall, and their efforts to rescue the crew of a foundering ship.

The first half of ‘Steps of the Ballet&’ demonstrates various ballet steps, and the process of staging a show. The second half is a short ballet showcasing these techniques.

A snapshot of life in the Outer Hebrides, ‘The Western Isles&’ shows the traditional manufacture of Harris Tweed and the dramatic homecoming of shipwrecked sailors.

The work of Trinity House, England’s General Lighthouse Authority, and the life of a lighthouse-keeper.

An upbeat overview of British Women’s contribution to the war effort in both military and civilian capacities, featuring a speech by Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother).

An amusing look at the production of a picture magazine, following the journalist ‘Jim’ as he investigates a town planning story in the north of England.