starter activity

You will be given an extract from a new guidebook on Dover and its tunnels. However, before it goes to the printers it needs proof-reading. There are 15 errors to find!

Was Dunkirk a Was Dunkirk a triumph or a triumph or a

disaster?disaster?Review knowledge from earlier in the Review knowledge from earlier in the

coursecourseTo explain why Dunkirk was a key event To explain why Dunkirk was a key event

in WWIIin WWIITo evaluate whether it was a success or To evaluate whether it was a success or

a failure for the Britisha failure for the British

Learning objectives

Your taskYour task

Read p.158 in ‘Peace & War’ and Read p.158 in ‘Peace & War’ and identify as many reasons as you why identify as many reasons as you why Dunkirk was a significant event in Dunkirk was a significant event in World War Two.World War Two.

Why Dunkirk was so Why Dunkirk was so significantsignificant

New type of warfare used by German army – New type of warfare used by German army – blitzkriegblitzkrieg

Entire British Army could have been captured Entire British Army could have been captured (300,000+)(300,000+)

Demonstrated the leadership & organisation Demonstrated the leadership & organisation skills of Churchill & Ramsayskills of Churchill & Ramsay

Involved civilians using pleasure craft & ‘little Involved civilians using pleasure craft & ‘little ships’ in rescue operationships’ in rescue operation

Propaganda victory & morale booster for Propaganda victory & morale booster for BritishBritish

Marked end of ‘phoney war’Marked end of ‘phoney war’

Your tasksYour tasks Your teacher will give you a copy of Charles Your teacher will give you a copy of Charles

Cundall’s painting of the ‘Withdrawal from Cundall’s painting of the ‘Withdrawal from Dunkirk’. Annotate the picture with what you Dunkirk’. Annotate the picture with what you can see and already know about the evacuation. can see and already know about the evacuation.

Compare the painting of Dunkirk with sources Compare the painting of Dunkirk with sources 2-7 on p.158-9. In a different colour, note down 2-7 on p.158-9. In a different colour, note down additional details you learn about the event.additional details you learn about the event.

Extension – how do you imagine the German Extension – how do you imagine the German newspapers would have reported the same newspapers would have reported the same event?event?

Watch this clip from ‘Atonement’. How similar Watch this clip from ‘Atonement’. How similar or different is it to the accounts you have read or different is it to the accounts you have read so far? Note down and similarities / differences.so far? Note down and similarities / differences.

Charles Cundall (official war artist), ‘Withdrawal from Dunkirk’, 1940 -

Your taskYour task

Complete the table your teacher provides.Complete the table your teacher provides. Divide into pairs. One of you is a Divide into pairs. One of you is a

journalist trying to show her readers that journalist trying to show her readers that Dunkirk was a terrible disaster the other Dunkirk was a terrible disaster the other that it was a triumph. Read through that it was a triumph. Read through sources 2-14 and gather evidence to sources 2-14 and gather evidence to support your interpretation.support your interpretation.

ExtensionExtension

Why do historians disagree about Why do historians disagree about Dunkirk?Dunkirk?

Do you think we will ever know ‘the Do you think we will ever know ‘the truth’ about Dunkirk?truth’ about Dunkirk?

HomeworkHomework

Ensure you have completed your Ensure you have completed your table on the Dunkirk sources.table on the Dunkirk sources.

Next lesson, we will hold a debate Next lesson, we will hold a debate on whether Dunkirk was a triumph on whether Dunkirk was a triumph or a disaster. Highlight your 2 best or a disaster. Highlight your 2 best pieces of evidence that you would pieces of evidence that you would use for either side of the argument use for either side of the argument and explain why you have chosen and explain why you have chosen them.them.

PlenaryPlenary Give 3 typical SPAG mistakes from the Give 3 typical SPAG mistakes from the

starter activity you should avoid in your starter activity you should avoid in your own writingown writing

Give 3 reasons why Dunkirk was such a Give 3 reasons why Dunkirk was such a significant eventsignificant event

Give 2 pieces of evidence that suggest it Give 2 pieces of evidence that suggest it was / wasn’t a ‘miracle’was / wasn’t a ‘miracle’

Extension: can you think of any other Extension: can you think of any other events from WWII that might not have events from WWII that might not have been as much of a ‘triumph’ as they been as much of a ‘triumph’ as they appeared at the time?appeared at the time?