primary homework anderson shelters

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Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 4BB UK

The Tyrrells School

Aspire, Care, Learn for Life

• DT - Anderson Shelters
• Class Pages

DT: Anderson Shelter

To end our WW2 unit, year 6 have been busy making Anderson shelters as part of the DT curriculum. The children spent time identifying features of Anderson Shelters from WW2 and used this to develop design ideas. They really focused on the structure of the product and how they could strengthen their final products to make it as safe as possible! Finally, using their understanding of circuits, from their study of Electricity in science, the children created a working circuit to go inside their Anderson shelter to add light. Children worked in pairs to build their shelters and these pictures display the finished pieces.

Unfortunately not the ones with chocolate chips.

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Archbishop Courtenay Primary School

• Lesson 4: Air Raids and Anderson Shelters
• Our Learning
• Class Pages Archive: 2019 - 2020
• Goldfinches - Year 6
• History World War II
• History Lessons

Design a leaflet giving advice from the government to someone sheltering during an air-raid. You will need to include information on this presentation and from the text 'What To Do In An Air-raid' (below).

• Anderson-Shelters.pdf
• Anderson-Shelters.pptx

Read the information then answer the questions

(you can download the information as a document if you prefer - scroll down the page)

What to do during an air-raid

During the late 1930s, the British government began to prepare the civilian population for war. As well as the widely expected and feared bombing raids, it was also thought that poison gas might be used against civilians. Gas masks were issued in 1938 and over 44 million had been distributed by the outbreak of the  Second World War  in September 1939.

From 1 September 1939, 'Blackout' was enforced. Curtains, cardboard and paint were used to prevent light escaping from houses, offices, factories or shops, which might be used by enemy bombers to locate their targets.

The first air raid shelters were distributed in 1938. People without the outside space needed to put one up were encouraged to use communal shelters instead.

Public information films, leaflets and posters provided advice and guidance on how to cope in an air raid. These are some of the ways that the public could protect themselves – and others – during  the Blitz .

Take care during an air-raid

Blackout restrictions did not just cover the home. Street lighting and illuminated signs were extinguished and all vehicles had to put caps over their lights to dim them. In the early days of the war, people were forbidden even to carry around torches. The blackout caused a steady rise in accidents. A poll published in January 1940 found that since the previous September, one person in five had been injured in the blackout.

Carry a gas mask

The public were urged by the government to carry their gas masks at all times, although it was not a legal requirement to do so. Initially, there were instances where workplaces sent home any employees who did not have their masks and some places of entertainment refused to allow people to enter without them. During the  Phoney War   period – from 3 September 1939 to 10 May 1940 – many people stopped carrying their gas masks.

Ta ke shelter at home

An Anderson shelter stands intact amongst a scene of debris in Norwich, c.1941                                                                                                                                                  

Anderson shelters – named after Sir John Anderson – consisted of two curved corrugated sheets of steel, bolted together at the top and sunk three feet into the ground, then covered with eighteen inches of earth. If constructed correctly, they could withstand the effects of a hundred-pound bomb falling six feet away. However, many Anderson shelters leaked, were cold, dark and cramped and amplified the noise of falling bombs.

If outside, find a communal shelter

The Tube, October 1940 , by Feliks Topolski (wash on paper)

The government initially tried to prevent London Underground stations being used as air raid shelters, fearing the development of a 'deep shelter mentality' and the potential disruption of the capital's transport network. However, Londoners persisted in using the Tube and eventually the government had to reconsider. Aldwych station was closed and converted into a permanent shelter. Improvements such as bunks, better lighting, washing and toilet facilities were made at other stations.                                                                                        

Shelter at home (even if you don't have a garden)

A Morrison shelter in a dining room, 1941

Morrison shelters – named after the Home Secretary Herbert Morrison – were produced from January 1941. They consisted of a rectangular steel and mesh cage which could accommodate two adults and two children. The Morrison was intended for use indoors so was suitable for those without gardens. Though more popular than Anderson shelters, they were less effective as they provided no lateral protection. They could also be used as a dining table during daytime.

     Be prepared for a gas attack

Air Raid Precautions (ARP) gas rattle

Air raid wardens   were equipped with gas rattles and whistles to alert the public to a gas attack. Post boxes and lamp posts were painted with a substance which would reveal the presence of gas and identification and decontamination squads were set up. The public could attend lectures on the different types of gases that might be used and were advised to fill gaps in their windows and doors to prevent gas seeping in.

Read the text then answer the questions. Refer to the text in your answer. (Think – where in the text is the answer).

• In the first paragraph we are told  ‘the British government began to prepare the civilian population for war’. What is meant by ‘ the civilian population’?  [1 mark]
• War was declared on 1 st  September 1939. List 2 things that the government did to prepare for war  before  this date. [1 mark]
• List 3 changes people had to make when the ‘Blackout’ was enforced. [2 marks]
• Look at the image of the poster in the paragraph subtitled ‘Blackout’. Why do you think people were encouraged to wait 15 seconds before moving in the blackout? [2 marks]
• Look at the paragraph with the subheading  Carry a gas mask.  Which word in the first sentence tells us that the government tried to persuade people to carry a gas mask? [1 mark]
• Why do you think that Anderson shelters were names after Sir John Anderson? [1 mark]
• Some people preferred not to use an Anderson shelter. Why do you think this was? (Refer to the text). [2 marks]
• Why did the government try to prevent people from taking shelter in the underground? [2 marks]
• Explain why Morrison shelters were less effective forms of protection? [1 mark]
• Look at the first heading on page 3. What does  communal  mean? [1 mark]
• Do you think the government was effective in preparing people for air-raids? Explain your answer making reference to the text. [3 marks]

Information sheet and answer sheet

• What To Do During An Air Raid .pdf
• Air raid text answers.pdf

These posters helped Britain prepare for air-raids

in the Second World War

This will help you to understand how to structure an information text

• how_do_you_survive_an_earthquake.pdf
• how_do_you_survive_an_earthquake.docx

Unfortunately not the ones with chocolate chips.

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Website CMS

A 'sessionid' token is required for logging in to the website and a 'crfstoken' token is used to prevent cross site request forgery. An 'alertDismissed' token is used to prevent certain alerts from re-appearing if they have been dismissed. An 'awsUploads' object is used to facilitate file uploads.

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Cookies are used to help distinguish between humans and bots on contact forms on this website.

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Anderson Shelter Facts & Worksheets

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Table of Contents

The Anderson shelter was designed in 1938 by William Paterson and Oscar Carl Kerrison in response to a request from the Home Office. It was named after Sir John Anderson, who was responsible for preparing air-raid precautions immediately before the start of World War II . See below for more information and Anderson shelter facts.

• Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain placed Sir John Anderson in charge of Air Raid Precautions in November 1938 . Anderson then commissioned an engineer by the name of William Patterson to design and build a small, cheap shelter that people could have in their garden.
• The first ‘Anderson’ shelter was erected in 1939 . It was built in a garden in Islington, London on 25 February, 1939.
• 1.5 million Anderson shelters were given to people before the start of World War 2. These shelters were distributed between February 1939 and the start of the war in September to people in areas that were expected to be bombed by the Luftwaffe.
• Throughout WW1 , another 2.1 million Anderson shelters were built.
• The shelters were given free to anybody who earned less than £250 a year . Anybody with a higher income could buy an Anderson shelter for £7.
• The construction of the shelters were quite simple . They were made from six curved panels of corrugated steel that were bolted together at the top. They had steel plates at either end, and measured 1.95m by 1.35m.
• Once they were built, the shelters were buried up to 1m into the ground . They would then have a thick layer of soil and turf heaped on top to keep them secure.
• The Anderson shelter was built to accommodate up to six people.
• The shelters were quite cramped for taller people . Somebody over 6ft would have found it difficult to fit inside comfortably.
• The Anderson shelter was incredibly strong . They were especially strong against a compressive force – for example the explosion of a nearby bomb – because of their corrugation.
• It was very cold inside the Anderson shelter. In fact, to try and prevent people from leaving their shelter to go back to their warmer homes at night, the Government issued some guidelines on how to make them warmer and more comfortable. The Morrison shelter was also developed to be used inside the home.
• People were expected to assemble their own shelters . Families would receive their shelter with an instruction guide and materials to put the Anderson shelter together.
• A lot of Anderson shelters still exist today . Many people dug up the shelters after the war and used them as garden sheds.
• Many families used to try and brighten up their shelters. They would often grow flowers and vegetables on the roof. One person actually wrote: “There is more danger of being hit by a vegetable marrow falling off the roof, than of being hit by a bomb!”.
• Strategic German bombing of the UK from 1939-1945 killed around 50,000 people. UK attacks on German cities killed ten times as many people – around 500,000 – which shows just how effective the Anderson shelter was.
• A survey in November 1940 survey discovered that only 27% of Londoners used Anderson shelters. 9% slept in public shelters and 4% used underground railway stations. The remaining 60% of people were either on duty at night or slept in their own homes. They said that if they were going to die they would rather die in the comfort of their own home.

Anderson Shelter Worksheets

This bundle includes 11 ready-to-use Anderson Shelter worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about The Anderson shelter which was designed in 1938 by William Paterson and Oscar Carl Kerrison in response to a request from the Home Office. It was named after Sir John Anderson, who was responsible for preparing air-raid precautions immediately before the start of World War II.

Throughout the extensive worksheet pack there are multiple lesson resources and quizzes for students to practice their knowledge which can be used within the classroom or homeschooling environment.

Included Anderson Shelter   worksheets:

Anderson Shelter Word Search Students will tackle this Anderson Shelter quiz in the form of a word search which students will complete using the knowledge gained from previous activities and quizzes.

Analyse the Parts Analysis writing task. Analyse the different parts of the Anderson Shelter then answer the given questions.

Cartoon Analysis Questions and answers piece based upon analysis of a cartoon image.

Inside A Shelter Inside a shelter writing piece. Students must read the passage and answer a number of challenging emotive questions.

My Life During World War II Creative writing task. Students must imagine themselves in World War 2 and share their thoughts in the shape of a diary entry.

Design A Shelter Fun, creative task. Students must design their own Shelter. Utilise the space to create a prototype design.

Local Interview Students must interview someone locally or create an interview for someone who experienced an Air Raid.

A Special Letter Students must write an emotive, special letter to those caught up in conflict today.

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Use With Any Curriculum

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Mandy is the creator of the Woodlands Resources section of the Woodlands Junior website.  The two websites  projectbritain.com  and  primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk   are the new homes for the Woodlands Resources.

Mandy left Woodlands in 2003 to work in Kent schools as an ICT Consulatant.  She now teaches computers at  The Granville School  and  St. John's Primary School  in Sevenoaks Kent.

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WW2 Anderson Shelters

History for Kids

Anderson Shelter Facts & Information for Kids

What is an anderson shelter.

The Anderson shelter was an air raid shelter designed to accommodate up to six people. It was designed in 1938 by William Paterson and Oscar Carl (Karl) Kerrison in response to a request from the Home Office.

The Anderson shelter was named after Sir John Anderson, who was Lord Privy Seal with the responsibility of preparing air-raid precautions immediately prior to the outbreak of World War II.

Interesting Facts About Anderson Shelter

Below are some interesting facts and information on this very important air raid shelter.

• In 1938 the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain placed Sir John Anderson in charge of air raid precautions. Anderson worked with an engineer called William Patterson to design and ball a small, inexpensive air raid shelter that people could build in their garden.
• The first Anderson shelter was built in 1939. It was built in a garden in Islington, London on February 25, 1939.
• Over 1.5 million Anderson shelters were given out before the start of WW2. They were distributed  between February 1939 and the start of the Second World War that September. The shelters were given to people in areas that were at risk of being bombed by the Germans.
• Over the course of World War 2, another 2.1 million Anderson shelters were built in gardens around the country.
• Anderson shelters were free for people who earned less than £250 per year. For those with a higher income, they could be bought for £7.
• The shelters were very easy to build. Anderson shelters were made from six corrugated steel panels that were curved and bolted together at the top.
• The Anderson shelters were buried up to a meter in the ground. They would also have a thick layer of soil and turf on top to keep them secure.
• Shelters could hold up to six people and were incredibly strong. The corrugated sheets made them extra strong against compressive force and was perfect for protecting from nearby bomb explosions.
• You had to assemble your own shelter. Families who received an Anderson shelter got the materials and an instruction guide to put it together themselves.
• Many Anderson shelters are still in use today. A lot of people dug up the old shelters when the war ended to use them as garden sheds.
• A lot of Anderson shelters were decorated by their owners. This could include growing flowers or vegetables on the roof.
• UK bombings on German cities killed about 500,000 people but because of Anderson shelters German bombs killed 90% less — around 50,000. This shows just how effective the Anderson shelters were.
• Only 27% of people in London used Anderson shelters according to a 1940 survey. 9% slept in public shelters and 4% slept in underground railway stations. 60% of people were on duty at night or just slept in their own homes.

Read more World War Two Facts