VE Day - 75th Anniversary
This year, our May bank holiday will be on Friday 8th May instead of Monday 4th May. This is because 8th May 2020 is the 75th anniversary of the end of World war II in Europe.
It is known as VE Day (Victory in Europe) and marks the end of almost 6 years of fighting. In London, tens of thousands of people came into the city centre on this day. They listened to a speech by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Trafalgar Square. George VI, Queen Elizabeth and their two daughters, Elizabeth (our Queen) and Margaret, also greeted the cheering crowds from their balcony at Buckingham Palace.
These scenes of joy were the same throughout the United Kingdom: People put up flags, banners and streamers everywhere. There were parties, fireworks, and some people wore red, white and blue rosettes. People hugged, sang songs and danced.
Many schools and communities would have been learning about VE Day and commemorating this event, and we know that many of you will still be doing this. Please feel free to use some of the resources below to help you learn and commemorate at home.
VE Day project plan
What is VE Day?
- Watch the Newsround videos to find out more about VE Day https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48201749
- BBC Teach – VE Day https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/history-ks2-ve-day/z7xtmfr
- VE Day images from the Imperial War Museum
- VE Day Newsreel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=552&v=NEavcsrMoMw&feature=emb_logo
- Horrible Histories VE Day song https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/watch/horrible-histories-songs-ve-day-song
VE Day Fun Activities
- Party Ideas Bunting, party hats and red, white and blue baking ideas:
https://northleeds.mumbler.co.uk/ways-to-celebrate-ve-day-at-home-with-the-family-during-lockdown/
- Party Plan Twinkl VE Day party plan pack
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t3-h-118-make-your-own-ve-day-street-party-lesson-pack
- VE75 Visit this page for suggestions of creative activities and perhaps take part in the VEDay75 Creative Challenge.
https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/dan-snows-ve-day-challenge/
- Music and Dance Listen to some VE Day music, or learn how to Swing dance with this tutorial from The Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. (The Lindy Hop) which was popular in the 1940s having originated in the 1920s and early 1930s in Harlem, New York. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5DWLZGQOoE
- Make Do and Mend Due to a shortage of materials in WW2, people were urged to make do with what they already had. Do you have any clothes or accessories that you could ‘upcycle’ into new clothing? Or make it into something completely different to give it another purpose.
