The ‘Mapping the Centenary’ portal introduces users to a variety of topics linked to the First World War, as is taught on the National Curriculum. Please note – these activities are aimed at Key Stage 3 but should be capable of being used with minimal adaptation with Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 also.
Teachers may choose to identify specific local projects in advance, either as a basis for prompting initial discussion, or to determine the extent of their affiliated digital resources. Please see the Teachers’ Guide for more details about the portal, and how to use it.
We have compiled two suggested classroom or homework activities. Activity One explores the spread and scale of projects shown on the map, whilst Activity Two suggests how to search through commemorative activity listings. You may also find IWM Learning Resources helpful in exploring the history of the First World War and themes including Remembrance.
Suggested Learning Activities
-
Activity One: Analyse the map
Set pupils a digital exercise or homework task of identifying individual projects, using the ‘Centenary Projects Map’:
- Are there any patterns in the projects featured in the map? Where are they located in the UK?
- Zoom into the map to find an activity that took place near to where your school is.
- Click on the pin to find out more.
- What was this project about (e.g. women’s stories, Home Front etc.)
- Find an example from another country – this could be in other parts of the UK, or zoom out to see projects in other parts of the world.
- Compare/contrast the two projects you have chosen.
-
Activity Two: Search for projects
Set pupils a digital exercise or homework task of identifying individual projects about particular themes, locations or activity type, using the ‘search function’:
- Use identified projects as a direct route towards introducing key First World War themes, ranging from ‘Hidden Histories’ to the ‘Western Front & Trenches’.
- Filter initial results to sift according to the three different categorisation options (‘Region’, ‘Output/Event’ and ‘Subject/Theme’). For example, search projects with ‘Exhibition (Temporary or Permanent)’ as an Output, then select results that had ‘Medicine’ as their ‘Subject/Theme’. Alternatively, start by categorising your UK region before choosing ‘Artwork/Creative Response’ as a filter for ‘Output/Event’.
- Ask the class to discuss the purpose of the map and the significance of the war’s centenary, as a way of broaching the subject of remembrance (e.g. ‘Why is it important that we commemorate the past?’)
- Locate a War Memorial-themed project with digitised individual biographies. The power of individual stories can help pupils find a connection with the history they are studying.
