The Women in the British Army resources help students aged 11-16 to build their understanding of why it is important to commemorate and explore the contributions that women, regardless of ethnicity, sexuality and class backgrounds, have made throughout the history of the British Army.
The Women in the Army resources
The Women in the Army resources include ready-to-use lesson slides, assembly slides, case studies and an inspiring film to help students understand the changing roles of women in the British Army throughout history, and what it’s like to serve as a female soldier in the Army today.
The resources are part of the British Army’s dedication to addressing the inequalities within the organisation and raising awareness of the contributions of female service people both historically and now. They also include curriculum links to PSHE / Health and Wellbeing, Citizenship and History.
Interactive lesson plans to start discussions about historic women
The lesson plan offers interactive tasks to help young people to recognise and challenge harmful stereotypes and prejudice both at work and in society as a whole.
Showcasing the significant roles women have played from the 1800s up until today, the resources explore key events such as the rise of feminism and the impact of this, encouraging students to consider the evolving roles of women in the Army in the context of wider society.
The lesson links to in-depth case studies showcasing the contributions of historic women such as nurse Princess Omo-Oba Adenrele Ademola and Special Operations Executive Violette Szabo, alongside a video featuring current serving female soldiers.
These real-life stories aim to help students to understand some of the values and attributes associated with a career in the British Army.
Create a school-wide discussion with the assembly resource
The assembly slides and film builds on these key themes of feminism, gender and abolition, showcasing the contributions and accomplishments of women in the Army and asking students to think about the meaning of remembrance.
The assembly brings a specific focus to the history of women in wartime and features empowering women, including Captain Flora Sandes, who was the only woman to fight on the front line of WWI, and Adelaide Hall, a jazz singer who entertained troops in WWII and was the first Black performer to be given a long-term contract with the BBC.
These individual stories show the diverse history of the British Army and show the importance of remembering the varied and significant historical contribution of women.
Where can I find these resources?
You can download them for free, now, here.
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