With fewer and fewer living veterans and civilians that witnessed WW2 firsthand, the 80th anniversary is a unique chance to connect students with history and spark those increasingly rare intergenerational conversations. The 80th anniversary of VE Day is widely regarded as one of the final opportunities to commemorate the event alongside living WW2 veterans.
We’ve listed some of the best 80th anniversary VE Day teaching resources and activities below. Or if you’re interested in our fully guided history tours, take a look at our selection of WW2 history trips here.
BBC short films
The BBC provides free resources for primary and secondary students, including a small collection of short films based around VE Day.
BBC secondary assembly
In the video, Historian Shalina Patel meets social media stars Jess and Norma to discuss VE Day. Norma was 11 years old when the War ended in 1945. In the film Norma is interviewed about her memories of the end of the war and post-war Britain, discussing topics including rationing, cooking, and ‘the Blitz spirit’. There are also resources to support learning before and after watching the video.
VE and VJ Day educational resources
Our Shared Story is a collection of educational resources to support young people to engage with VE and VJ Day 80th commemorations, both inside and outside the classroom.
Historic England
These resources can be used as part of an assembly to commemorate VE Day or as part of wider learning around WW2. Included are PowerPoint presentations about VE Day and WW2, as well as a PDF about the celebrations that took place around Britain.
Twinkl
There are free educational resources and activities to support your VE Day commemorations on Twinkl, created by teachers for teachers. You can filter resources on the left by age group.
Snap a photo to feature in the VEHAPPY National Mosaic Tribute
VEHAPPY is a nationwide initiative to honour VE Day by coming together in a unique way, by inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in this creative photo mosaic tribute. The living mosaic is made up of photos submitted by people across the country, placed over the iconic image of Winston Churchill giving the V for Victory sign.
Get a letter from a veteran with VE Mail
VE Mail is a unique opportunity for young people to hear first-hand from a WW2 veteran, to share their stories, learn about their victory, and to inspire their future. Simply request a letter to be sent to your class online, receive your letter within a few weeks, and encourage them to write back to the veteran to say thank you, reflecting on what VE Day means to them now.
Letters to Loved Ones
In partnership with Imperial War Museums, Letters to Loved Ones invites people to share historical letters from their VE and VJ Day generation relatives. This could include soldiers on the front line; men, women and children on the home front; or relatives who contributed to Britain’s war effort from Britain and Commonwealth countries. There are also letters featured on their website already submitted by others that are available to read.
Summary
There are many reasons why commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day with your students is beneficial. Not only does it strengthen their understanding of history firsthand and give them a chance to reflect on the peace and freedom that we enjoy today, but it’s even more special because this is an increasingly rare and significant event.
We hope you find these resources useful when planning lessons and activities around the VE Day anniversary with your students, and if you’re ready to extend your learning even further, take a look at our selection of fully guided history trips around The Second World War to Germany and France.
