Targeted at KS3, this lesson on Windrush Child by John Agard introduces the context of the Windrush generation, and is ideal for use as part of a scheme of work on poetry across different cultures. The emphasis in this lesson is on identifying the meaning, themes and ideas implicit in the poem, along with educating students on the cultural, social and political significance of the Windrush generation.
This lesson is particularly idea for a higher ability Year 8 class, or mixed ability Year 9 students.
The skills required for the main task are both creative and transaction writing related, so this lesson serves a multitude of purposes.
Introduce students to the powerful story of Windrush Child with this comprehensive guided reading resource for KS3-KS4. This literacy pack is designed with three adapted levels to support diverse learning abilities:
Beginning: Understanding & Comprehension — This level helps students grasp key events and characters, building foundational literacy skills.
Intermediate: Application & Analysis — Students explore themes like identity and resilience, encouraging deeper analytical thinking and connection to the text.
Advanced: Evaluation & Creation — This level challenges students to express their insights through creative writing and discussions, fostering critical thinking and reflection.
Engaging videos are included to bring the text to life, enhancing comprehension and emotional connection to the material. Comprehensive answers are provided for each level, ensuring effective assessment and feedback. This resource not only promotes critical thinking and empathy but also strengthens essential reading skills.
Carefully laid out in an easy-to-read and print format
Note: “Teacher slides” are AI-generated.
Teacher notes for one lesson with acitivities looking at the poem ‘The Windrush Child’ by John Agard, used as an English lesson on a day where we learnt about The Windrush.
A KS3 History lesson on the Empire Windrush.
Students will look at the context for immigration from the West Indies to Britain and the treatment of the immigrants upon their arrival. There are a few first hand accounts of immigrants to analyse.
Students will then answer comprehension questions at the end of the lesson.
Celebrating Windrush . A fully-resourced lesson (1 hour +) which can be used by teachers to deliver a detailed workshop / session on the importance of this topic.
Learning Outcomes:
I understand the timeline of Windrush
I understand the Windrush scandal
I understand the importance of Windrush Day
Key terms
Mass immigration, second class citizens, repatriated, resident status
Each Lesson Pack Contains:
1 Fully Editable Careers PowerPoint (Learning Outcomes, Confidence Checkers, Assessment of Learning, Variety of Tasks, Video Embedded URL Clips, Engaging Premium Quality Slides, Extra Support Websites, Challenging & Thoughtful Questioning)
Assessment Opportunity (Confidence Checker)
The lesson includes a detailed PowerPoint, variety of student facing tasks and comprehension tasks These resources have been designed to be engaging, informative and pick up and teach.
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If you need any support with this lesson or would like to find out more about what Cre8tive Resources can offer your school please email: thecre8tiveresources@gmail.com
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This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge of the Windrush Generation, as a part of their learning in history or social studies. It contains all of the key details, including information about the context, journey and Windrush Scandal. Information is categorised into comprehensive sections on:
-Overview;
-Background and Journey;
-Important Questions and Answers;
-Key Vocabulary and Definitions
-Windrush Timeline.
Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A4 or A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included). It can be used by students of all ages, but was originally designed for students in KS2.
7 PPTs and resources to teach the Windrush Generation to Y5/6
lesson 1: To locate the Caribbean Islands and explain their history
lesson 2: To explain how the people of the Caribbean helped Britain in the war against Nazi Germany and Hitler
Lesson 3: To find out why people migratedfrom the Caribbean to Britainin 1948
Lesson 4: To understand what London life was like for the Windrush pioneers
Lesson 5: To learn who Sam King was and what he did
Lesson 6: To learn who Norma Best was and what she did
Lesson 7: To understand how the Windrush Generation changed Britain for the better
This lesson on the Windrush Generation explores the arrival of Caribbean migrants to Britain on the SS Empire Windrush in 1948. It examines the push and pull factors for migration, such as post-war labor shortages in Britain and economic difficulties in the Caribbean. Students analyze the challenges faced by the migrants, including racial discrimination and housing issues, and their cultural contributions to British society. Activities include watching and analyzing a video, discussing a case study, identifying push and pull factors, completing a pre-printed activity sheet, and participating in quizzes to reinforce key concepts and historical context.
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Migration Nation
The aim of this lesson is to assess the impact the Windrush Generation and Caribbean migration made upon Britain post World War II.
This lesson is the second part out of two focusing on Caribbean migration to Britain.
The lesson begins with the analysis of why people on board the Empire Windrush came to Britain. There is an accompanying passenger list excerpt, with differentiated questions for the students. Furthermore there is some source scholarship to complete on a newspaper report from the time.
As well as focusing on the positives of culture brought with this post war immigration and the current Notting Hill Carnival, there are also negatives to evaluate such as racism, prejudice and discrimination faced by many who settled in Britain.
Students are required to analyse key information before completing an extended writing exercise with key words and scaffolding to help if required. There is also a challenge to students to explain how these problems might and should have been overcome from the outset.
The plenary is in the style of a ‘Have I got news for you’ quiz.
There are video links to also accompany the lesson.
The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and edited to suit.
The lesson is differentiated, fully resourced and includes suggested teaching strategies.
This is a 13 slide powerpoint explaining what Windrush is and what the Windrush Scandal is all about.
The powerpoint contains information, pictures, videos and thinking points for the students.
It has been designed to be a virtual assembly but can be adapted for a normal assembly or lesson if needed.
Fully resourced 20-lesson English unit based on Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah. Designed for upper KS2, this writing sequence supports pupils in developing empathy, expression, and a clear understanding of post-war migration through a wide range of purposeful writing outcomes. Pupils explore racism, identity and belonging while responding creatively and formally to events in the novel.
✔ Includes:
✔ 20 detailed lesson plans
✔ 20 editable PowerPoint presentations
✔ 39 resources (PDF/Word) including:
– Word banks and writing frames
– Worksheets and support sheets
– Emotions line graph and timeline templates
– Prompt cards and WAGOLLs
– Suggested website links for research
(A massive 60 files in total!)
★ Lesson Sequence Overview:
★ Introduction & Prediction – Read the prologue and raise questions about the text
★ Historical Context – Build a timeline of Jamaica’s history and post-war migration
★ Personal Writing – Diary entries, informal letters, and emotion tracking from Leonard’s perspective
★ Poetry & Performance – Study and perform ‘Windrush Child’ by John Agard; write original poetry
★ Discussion & Empathy – Advice writing for new pupils, formal letters about racist incidents, and speeches responding to injustice
★ Final Outcome – Write a persuasive pitch to the local council for a monument to the Windrush generation
✔ Why This Resource Works:
✔ Fully planned and ready to teach
✔ Wide range of engaging, purposeful writing tasks
✔ Supports history and PSHE links for deeper understanding
✔ Encourages empathy, reflection and real-world application
Ideal For:
KS2 English | Year 5 & 6 writing | Windrush topic | Black British history | Cross-curricular units linking English, History, and PSHE | 30–60 minute literacy lessons
Search tags: KS2 English unit | Windrush Child Benjamin Zephaniah | Year 6 writing plans | Black British history KS2 | racism and migration topic | writing outcomes UKS2 | Windrush monument lesson | outstanding writing planning KS2 | persuasive writing year 6 | poetry diary letters formal writing | Windrush Child English unit | PSHE writing upper key stage 2 black history month
SoW: What are the causes and consequences of migration?
L5: What was life like for the first Caribbean migrants?
L1: Why are some areas of the world more densely populated than others? - Free - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12695361
This unit is created in line with my personal passion for Population & Migration. This unit is framed around the cause and consequences of the global population growth, and the process and systems behind this geographical issue.
A conscience effect has also been made to embed dual coding within this SoW, as well as much differentiation and scaffolding.
This Unit is my favorite to deliver and has been streamlined over the last two years. Happy to answer questions and any feedback appreciated…
TheGeographyShopOriginal@gmail.com
Best FREE Resources (The Geography Shop)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12899088 (Climate Change SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12899440 (Development SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12638984 (Waste SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12451443 (Britain Globalisation SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12741793 (Local Area Investigation SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/bundler/12949461 (Cambridge International)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12922653 (Israel & Palestine)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12485457 (What is Geography?)
SoW:
L1: Why are some areas of the world more densely populated than others?
L2: How Does Population Structure Differ in Developing and Developed Countries?
L3: Where are the world’s megacities?
L4: How does urban growth create challenges and opportunities?
L5: What was life like for the first Caribbean migrants?
L6:What Impact Does Forced Migration have on Population?
L7 - What does illegal migration into Europe look like?
L8 - What does illegal migration look like in the USA?
It is worth noting that some of these lessons require two lessons to be delivered.
Read the poem Windrush Child by John Agard and get children’s reactions. Give brief history of SS Windrush’s journey to Britain in 1948. Children either mark the journey on a map or answer questions about photographs to do with Caribbean immigration on the Windrush.
This engaging and age-appropriate assembly PowerPoint is designed to help KS1 and KS2 pupils understand and reflect on the significance of Windrush Day (22nd June). It explores the journey of the Empire Windrush, the experiences of the Windrush Generation, and their lasting contribution to life in Britain.
Perfect for a whole-school assembly or class-based discussion.
What’s included:
10-slide editable PowerPoint
Who the Windrush Generation were and why they came to Britain
Life in the UK during the 1940s–70s
The importance of diversity, resilience and respect
Key discussion questions
BBC Newsround video link for visual context
Celebrate the courage, culture and contributions of the Windrush Generation in a meaningful way.
Perfect for Black History Month! This is a 4/5 lesson enquiry; entitled ‘**How far were the Windrush Generation welcomed to Britain?’
This enquiry was initially designed as a compare/ contrast enquiry following a traditional USA Civil Rights enquiry. It could be taught to a higher able year 8 class, but due to the inclusion of GCSE style activities/ questions, it is best suited to teach in year 9.
This enquiry could also be condensed down for stand alone Black History Month lessons in October or for Windrush Day learning activities in June.
The lessons include :
a clear and straight - forward lesson plan on the first slide
clearly labelled student resources on the slides (no fuss of looking through extra docs.)
differentiated/ SEN/ EAL resources included
guidance/ extra info for teachers in the ‘notes’ section
The lesson titles are as follows:
L1: Who were the Windrush Generation and why did they come to Britain?
L2: What challenges did they face?
L3: What was the most significant turning point for improvement of race relations?
L4: How adequately were they commemorated?
NOTE: the 4th lesson was unable to upload in this bundle, you can access it here (reduced price if you buy it with all the other lessons): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/windrush-generation-memorials-12154665
Suitable for AQA GCSE Citizenship: Life in Modern Britain. Can be adapted for other courses and PSHE SOW, and easily taught by non-specialists. Lessons do not require any textbooks. All lessons begin with a do now task, have teacher input via text or video (which is embedded so please allow content when opening file), and have practice tasks for students to spend a length of time practicing exam style questions and statements.
Life in Modern Britain.
Lesson 07.08 The Windrush Generation. This is planned for a double lesson, which in my school is 100 minutes. This lesson would be suitable to be delivered in Black History Month, Health and Social Care, History etc. As it is very much about their contribution to the UK.
Bundle: Life in Modern Britain https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/life-in-modern-britain-13094889
Bundle: Rights & Responsibilities: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13238773
Active Citizenship Booklet: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13222584
up to 180+ minutes
Pack contains: lesson plan, Windrush worksheet (reading exercise, comprehension, activities, essay writing)
Pack focus: British Culture/History/Politics/immigration (Black British Culture/History/Politics/immigration), BLM.
Students learn about the Windrush Generation and the scandal that recently made front-page news. The pack looks at the reason for the immigration, the impact on British culture and how the British government has reacted to the scandal.
Part 2 includes analysis of “Black” lyrics by rapper Dave (lyrics not included, though easily found online), who includes references to Windrush, Grenfell, Reparations, and Meghan Markle’s representation in the press.
Writing exercises include - formal letter writing to MPs, and creative writing, and essay writing.
Listen to a poem written by an immigrant on the SS Windrush. Discuss how he felt about leaving his home and the reactions of some British people. Children compare the climate in the Caribbean with that of Britain and write imaginary letters home from a migrant.