How safe were air raid shelters for the poor in Britains cities?
One reason why I like this activity, devised and researched by Ian Luff, is that it’s clear that Ian really cares about the topic – as he explains below, he was born near the focus of the activity, the Latham Street Shelter, and he identifies with the people who had taken shelter there. It’s a great reminder that an essential part of teaching is caring – not just about the people you teach but about the people you are teaching about. Your interest in those people will communicate itself to your students and help them care too. Ian’s activity has two parts – a physical activity that clearly shows the limitations of shelters, leading into a documentary activity centred around two letters exchanged at the time between the head of Poplar Council and the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Force. You can use it in its own right or to support the exercise on pages 82-83 of the SHP History Year 9 book. Also, feedback on this activity is additionally welcome, particularly the documentary part, be
