Ship Shape Stories

Wednesday 22 July 2020

Navy
Age 9-11 (KS2)

Age 11-14 (KS3)

Ever wondered what life would be like as a crew member aboard a Navy ship?

Join IWM expert Ngaire as she helps us discover the extraordinary stories from the deck of the largest object in IWM’s collection, HMS Belfast. Find out about some of the jobs on board and the tough missions the ship went on during her time at sea.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of our Adventures in History films.

Ship Shape Stories

Part of the Adventures in History series created during the UK lockdown in Spring 2020.

Curriculum Links and Learning Objectives

KS3/4 - Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world, 1901-present.
GCSE - Warfare and British society, c1250-Present.
To explore personal stories of those who lived and worked on a warship during the Second World War.

HMS Belfast Crew

HMS Belfast and CBBC Presenter Ben Shires need you to become the newest member of their crew!

From peeling potatoes to providing medical care, every member of the almost 1000 strong crew had a very important role to play and it’s time to find out yours!

Watch mission briefing >

HMS Belfast & D-Day

HMS Belfast & D-Day

HMS Belfast played an important role in D-Day, one of the most famous events of the Second World War.

Discover 8 fascinating things about HMS Belfast and D-Day >

Explore Further

History

Life Under The Sea

Our special guest, Ed from the Royal Navy, is interviewed by CBBC presenter Ben Shires. Ed will tell us all about what it’s like to work on a submarine and spend months living deep beneath the waves.

History

D-Day: People and Planning

Want to hear about the biggest invasion by land, sea and air in history? Discover how D-Day was planned and learn about the real people who were part of it.

History

Family Mission: Morse Code

Morse code was widely used during the Second World War by Britain’s armed forces. Learn how to use it to send your own messages!

Book A Visit to IWM

IWM

IWM London

School visits to IWM London

Discover the stories of lives shaped by war and conflict from 1914 until the present day. Step into the iconic atrium, explore the brand new Second World War Galleries and experience our new learning facilities.

IWM North

School visits to IWM North

Purpose-built to tell the powerful stories of over a century of war, IWM North makes full use of its extraordinary exhibition space to deliver an award-winning immersive experience.

©IWM

IWM Duxford

School visits to IWM Duxford

Walk through the same hangars and buildings as those who served at RAF Duxford. See aircraft take to the skies from the airfield that Spitfires first flew. And get up close to over a century of aviation with hundreds of aircraft and objects on display.