As part of their history topic on WWII, Year 6 found out about what life was like on the Home Front. They discovered that the way people used their gardens, and outdoor spaces, changed a lot, due to the Blitz and also due to rationing. 

A very noticeable new arrival in many gardens was the Anderson Shelter, supplied  by the government free to low income families and later sold to others to wealthier people. 1.5 million Anderson shelters were distributed in the months immediately leading up to the outbreak of war. When production ended 3.6 million had been produced. The shelter was a type of air-raid shelter, designed for use in the garden. When covered with earth the shelter would give some protection from shell fragments and bomb splinters. 

Another key change for many families was caused by food shortages and rationing, that were caused by the war. With food in short supply, households were encouraged to give over any available garden space to growing their own food, and some families even kept pigs and chickens in their gardens-even in towns and cities.

With all of this in mind, Mrs Clay asked the children to design and build models of WWII gardens, including an Anderson shelter. They were given the challenge of trying to do so without using tape or glue. The children rose to the challenge brilliantly and were given awards for detail, accuracy and narrative.

Take a look at their fantastic models!