Two totally different sides of wartime Britain have been felt by children checking the connection between World War Two.
Year 6 pupils at Upton Junior School happen to be exploring what life was like regarding their counterparts almost 4 decades ago when war broke out and peoples’ lives were changed forever.
Children witnessed where individuals hid on the bombs that rained in their homes and towns; and also learnt how a new dance craze helped keep their spirits up.
Pupils had time to enjoy a tour in the wartime tunnels cut deep in to the chalk underneath Ramsgate.
This is the variety of safety where families fled to shelter from air raids that bombarded Thanet regularly.
The tour included a quick film show within a 150 year old Victorian railway tunnel before pupils had the chance to depart to the purpose-built air raid protection network underground where decades earlier youngsters how old they are had spent a great number of events of their lives.
In complete contrast, 4 seasons 6 pupils then learnt ways to complete the jive, a dance craze that swept across Europe from America during the early 1940s.
Dancer Lizzie Davies demonstrated every one of the moves and parents were invited in join the session in the main school hall.
Head of Year 6 Athanasia Papa-Adams said: “It was very exciting. It was tricky, they worked hard and were incorporate the jive swing moves coupled with lots of kicks, flicks and pointed toes.
“Each class, their teacher and their parents thoroughly enjoyed the session. Lizzie was brilliant at teaching the children the choreography, we were holding so engaged and gave it their all.
“Meanwhile coming to the tunnels gave our kids the opportunity to have a real part of wartime Britain that’s been preserved at our doorstep.
“They were intrigued by the war stories they heard for the tunnel tour.”
Earlier from the term a wartime classroom complete with a choice of artefacts including books, toys, posters, foodstuffs and cooking utensils, cameras, phones and codes, was create by historian Peter O’Sullivan to get the scene for that pupils’ project work.
Head of School Darci Arthur said: “Exploring and researching World War 2 is definitely a preferred topic for that Year 6 groups. And also inspired classroom teaching they have enjoyed an array of other experiences to read their eyes about the life was like for younger people and families during wartime Britain.”
