PUPILS at a Wisbech primary school have learnt about the sacrifices of their past generations on a World War Two themed day.

The year four classes at Orchard’s Church of England school took part in a series of reenacments to experience what it would been like to live through the Blitz.

They made gas masks and the teachers simulated a bomb alert to convey to the pupils the horror of living under the constant threat of German aerial bombardment.

Nicola Parker, the school’s headmaster, said: “Our teachers stayed in character all day to sell the experience. One of the pupils left his gas mask on the table so when the teacher came in he was told ‘Mr Hitler waits for no one’. Looking back on the day, the children thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Harmony, aged 8, enjoyed the drastic change from a regular school day.

She said; “I liked it when we swapped classes for the lessons because we would have a new teacher when we were evacuated. We did WWII maths and the calculations were set differently.”

The school has also organised themed events for other year groups with year five visiting Denny Abbey and year six exploring Ely Cathedral.

Nicola is convinced themed days and role-plays are a great way to capture children’s imagination in the classroom.

She said: “We have immediately seen the benefits of our themed days. Sitting at a desk does not suit all children so it is great to come up with a way to help them become more engaged with the material.”