To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the Department for Education has sent a teachers’ resource pack to every school (maintained and independent) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Packs for Scottish schools are available on request from the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum (tel: 01382 455053). Each pack contains a message from the Queen and a teachers’ booklet giving an account of the events of the war, the past and present significance of VE and VJ days and the expectations which peace raised at home. There are also practical ideas for classroom activities. Other resources include photographic reproductions, leaflets, posters, a newsletter and a video featuring a specially-made programme about the end of the war with archive footage and newsreel extracts.

The Second World War: The Home Front in the North West of England.The Home Front is brought to life in this video pack for key stage 3 from the North West Film Archive. Containing 95 minutes of archive footage, it is accompanied by comprehensive supporting notes with activities for pupils. Pounds 39.95 from NWFA, Minshull House, 47-49 Chorlton Street, Manchester M1 3EU. Tel: 0161 247 3097. A pack on the Home Front for primary schools will be available in July.

The Home Front. A pack of documents relating to life in Britain, 1939-45 includes material on rationing, evacuation and V2 attacks, with letters, ration book and identity card. Pounds 9.50 from History in Evidence, Unit 4, Park Road, Holmewood, Chesterfield, S42 5UY. Tel: 01246 856363. Battle of Britain documents, with reports, posters, political material and German invasion plans, are also available, Pounds 9.50.

Domestic Blitz is a 55-minute video from the Post Office Film and Video Library which aims to provide an informative and stimulating insight into the lives of Britain’s civilian population during the Blitz (1940-41). Produced for key stages 2-4, it is accompanied by a teacher’s booklet with pupil activities. Pounds 15 from the Post Office Film and Video Library, PO Box 145, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 1NH. Tel: 01795 426465.

History as News by Phil Hammond and Joan Hoey is a brief but absorbing booklet analysing international media reporting of the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Pounds 5 to individuals, Pounds 10 to institutions, from London International Research Exchange, 21 Hillfield Avenue, London N8 7DU.

History File: The Era of the Second World War. Last term’s BBC schools series for 11 to 14-year-olds made extensive use of archive film from Germany, France, Russia and the USA as well as British newsreels. Individual programmes covered the drift to war, battle on all fronts, the home front, living under the Axis rule and making peace. An accompanying audio cassette on the Second World War, Pounds 7.99 inc VAT, and Landmarks software on Second World War Invasion (Microworld) for Archi-medes and IBM PC, Pounds 29.35 inc VAT (see right). Further information from BBC Education Information, White City, London W12 7TS. Tel: 0181 746 1111.

Landmarks: Britain since 1930 in the autumn term included four programmes by the BBC for 9 to 12-year-olds about the Second World War and combined personal recollection, archive film and documents, and pupils’ investigations. Teacher’s notes Pounds 2.75, a book Fact Finders: Britain since 1930 Pounds 4.50, and software Britain since 1930 is available for Archimedes Pounds 14.10 inc VAT. BBC Education Information, White City, London W12 7TS. Tel: 0181 746 1111.

The BBC is releasing a series of videos to celebrate VE Day, some new, some re-releases. How We Won the War recounts the celebrations in Britain at the end of the war alongside descriptions of the horror and despair discovered during the liberation of Europe. In Destination D-Day, Huw Wheldon relates the events that led to the allied landings in Normandy on June 6 1944. Using first-hand accounts and archive footage, the video provides a rare record of an invasion unprecedented in military history. D-Day to Berlin is the most complete colour footage of the Second World War. Shot by the team led by Oscar-winning George Stevens, this is a 60-minute video of some of the historic events from D-Day to the allies’ entry to Berlin. The videos cost Pounds 10.99 each. BBC Video, Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0TT. Tel: 0181 576 2058.