Key Stage 2 | Imperial War Museums

The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

Americans at Duxford

Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945

HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth are greeted by Brigadier Frank Hunter and Major General Ira Eaker of the 8th US Army Air Forces on a visit to Duxford, 26 May 1943. (© IWM CH 19214)
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945

Pilots from the 78th Fighter Group, US 8th Army Air Force relaxing outside the Squadron 'ready room', late summer 1944. (© IWM HU 31937)
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945

Republic P-47C and D Thunderbolts of the 78th Fighter Group lined up on the airfield, winter 1943. (© IWM HU 57985)
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945

Bob Hope, accompanied by Francis Langford, sitting in the cockpit of Captain R E Eby's Republic P-47C Thunderbolt 'Vee Gaile' (82nd FS/78th FG), during their USO show visit to Duxford, 2 July 1943. (© IWM HU 57979)
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945
Americans at RAF Duxford 1943-1945

Wing Commander S L Matthews, Station Commander at Duxford, at the handover of the station to the US 8th Airforce, 1943. (© IWM HU 51427)

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Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
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IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
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Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
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HMS Belfast
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
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ARP Warden Activity

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
Assembling an Aeroplane

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
Aunty Flo

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
The Battle of Britain

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
People's Stories - D-Day Workshop

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
People's Stories - Mission Lancaster

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
'Put That Light Out!' with Agnes the Air Raid Warden

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
Remembrance

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
Wartime Classroom

Find out more about this session from the list below and then call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.

Key Stage 2

A visit to IWM Duxford can support programmes of study in History, Literacy, Science, Technology and Mathematics, as well as broader cross-curricular topics such as Flight and Transport.

Children can immerse themselves in role play, become history detectives and learn through historical sources or participate in sessions based amongst iconic exhibits like our Lancaster bomber and D-Day landing craft.

STEM subjects are well catered for too, so come and learn about how things fly, forces, structures, mechanisms and materials.

Choose from this list or browse through the images above to see the sessions available

ARP Warden Activity

60 minutes

Children learn about the work of ARP wardens and what to do in the event of an air raid or gas attack. Why not come in wartime dress with your gas mask box, an identity card and wartime lunch to add to the experience?

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

Assembling an Aeroplane

60 minutes

A practical activity where children learn about the different parts of an aeroplane and their purpose. Children then assemble a large-scale wooden 'sit-in' model, which requires a brave pilot to test.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

Aunty Flo

90 minutes

Florence Shaw, better known as Aunty Flo, is a member of the Women’s Voluntary Service. War has been declared and she wants the children to be prepared for the difficult days ahead. The session includes creating an identity card, talking about rations and gas mask practice.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

The Battle of Britain

60 minutes

Duxford Airfield played an important part in the Battle of Britain. View images and film from the era, look at artefacts, and learn about the preparations for the Battle of Britain and the key targets attacked.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

Children in the Second World War

Years 3-6 - 60 minutes

Find out what life was like for children growing up in the Second World War using posters, photographs, rarely seen footage and artefacts. Why not dress for the occasion as evacuees and bring your wartime lunches?

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

History Detectives

Years 3-6 - 90 minutes

Spot the modern items planted in the 1930s room - observe carefully, question, make deductions from clues and draw conclusions. Children view artefacts, film extracts and photographs related to Second World War themes.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

The Home Front

Years 3-6 - 60 minutes

Where were children evacuated from? How much chocolate was a month's ration? Find out the answers to these questions and more using images, film and artefacts. Ideal for linking with the QCA scheme of work on Children in the Second World War.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

How Things Fly

60 minutes

Come and find out how things fly. We use simple materials and flying models to demonstrate the main forces governing flight. Children join in with hands-on activities. The level and detail is tailored to each group, and a follow-up pack is provided.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

People's Stories - D-Day Workshop

Years 5-6 - 90 minutes

Children learn what was it like to be involved in the Normandy landings. The workshop is based in the atmospheric Normandy Experience exhibition.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

People's Stories - Mission Lancaster

Years 5-6 - 90 minutes

Children all have a role to play to make sure that the Lancaster is safe and ready to fly on a top secret mission. Can they work as a team to do their bit for the war effort?

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

'Put That Light Out!' with Agnes the Air Raid Warden

90 minutes

Agnes the Air Raid Warden takes her responsibilities very seriously and is on the look-out for children to join one of the Civil Defence services. Agnes will give practical advice on topics such as gas masks, first aid and dealing with incendiary bombs.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

Remembrance

90 minutes

Join in our poignant remembrance activities during a special week in November. Children explore the reasons why people go to war and why we should remember. They also learn about memorials and examine some of ours on-site.

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

Wartime Classroom

90 minutes

As evacuees you are waiting to be billeted to the neighbouring village. But first there's a lesson with the strict local school teacher. Can you perfect your gas mask and stirrup pump drill and go back to basics with reading, writing and arithmetic?

Call 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking

Sessions take place in our Learning Spaces and in the galleries, taking the museum's artefacts, both small and large, as an inspirational starting point. Our sessions inspire, enthuse and extend knowledge and key skills.

To be kept up to date with new sessions or special days, subscribe to Learning e-news.

How to book

Check our current charges and cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions.
Call the Department for Learning on 01223 499 341 to make a provisional booking.
Confirm the arrangements by completing our Booking Form.

Key concepts include

Chronological understanding
Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past
Historical interpretation and enquiry
Speaking with confidence, listening to others, group discussion and interaction
Scientific enquiry
Materials and their properties
Physical processes
Knowledge and understanding of materials and components
Evaluating processes and products

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