KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING
Talks & Displays
Whether you are a school seeking a more hands on approach to your history lessons, a museum or you are a group seeking a guest speaker. Blitz & Pieces aims to bring something special to the classroom and to your meeting place!
(See below for a small selection of the talks and services on offer; please contact for further details and any other requests).
All our historical workshops begin with an interactive timeline introduction in which pupils assemble themselves into a series of dates (for example in our WWI workshop the timeline cards range from the events such as the Battle of the Somme to the use of the first tanks, but also including some quirkier facts such as the first dogfight that involved nothing more than a fist shake!) Then, each card in turn is held up and brought to life with anecdotes, a little bit of pupil acting and the use of fun props to make every date truly memorable for the pupils. After this it is time for pupils have the chance to explore a vast artifact display.
PLEASE NOTE INFORMATION BELOW IS JUST TO GIVE AN INSIGHT TO THE WORKSHOP PLAN - THE FULL ACTIVITY PLAN AND ARTIFACT LISTS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
VICTORIAN
WORKSHOP
After the timeline of invention activity in the hall pupils are given the chance to experience in an inventions talk with our Victorian inventor, who will show them a range of inventions such as the typewriter, Victorian cameras. There is a chance for pupils to take part in a section entitled 'Guess the home inventions' where pupils examine and investigate strange inventions to try to work out what they are from the practical (the washboard and bed warmer) to the economic (the typewriter and sewing machine) through to the early moving picture viewer known as zoetrope. The pupils then are given the chance to design their own inventions and then pitched to a panel of teachers in a 'Dragons Den' style activity.
WWII
WORKSHOPS
The air raid siren sounds as the class enter the hall to find themselves in a WW2 blitz and met by the Home Guard Sergeant (or Air Raid Warden - PLEASE SPECIFY WHICH WHEN BOOKING). When the all clear sounds this is followed by a hello and introduction before we launch into the interactive timeline, which pupils assemble themselves into WWII events from the declaration of war, evacuation, the blackout, rationing and to finally the celebrations on VE day.
Following on from the morning's activities we continue with a range inspired by the training regime of the Home Guard (or air raid wardens); activities based around the blackout, first aid and extinguishing incendiary bombs (no real fire involved at any time) using a real stirrup pump.
WWI
WORKSHOP
In this activity, we unload a WWI soldier's kit bag to find out exactly what life was like in 1914-1918 for many soldiers. Discovering the eating habits and a look at a soldier's uniform. After this pupils are then given an explanation of the key unarmed commands such as 'Attention!' and 'A-ease!', pupils then gather their broomstick 'rifles' for some well disciplined armed drill. This workshop allows pupils an insight to what it must have been like to be a WWI soldier without actually sitting in a muddy trench!
OTHER
SERVICES
Using a variety of selected images, photographs and artifacts Blitz & Pieces aims to provide a high quality, immersive talk and lecture service to your library, museum, village hall or meeting place. We can cover a wide variety of topics from the origins of the Home Guard to a vivid insight into the daily routine and life of the British soldier in the trenches from 1914 - 1918. Although, other topics can be arranged and discussed prior to your booking.
