Exciting new War Graves Education Website and Visitor Guide Launched

MAIDENHEAD, England - The Commonwealth War Graves Commission today unveiled its innovative online education resource and visitor guide, which will help children and adults alike to better understand the sacrifice made by millions of servicemen and women during the two world wars.

Following a widespread consultation process with teachers and other professionals, visitors to www.cwgc.org/learningzone will be able to access a wide range of fascinating first-hand accounts, films, guides, downloadable teachers’ notes and practical tips to bring history and to life.

There’s plenty for the kids themselves. One fun learning tool at www.cwgc.org/learningzone is “Glory Days”, where your animated guide, football manager Boyce Dungood helps to uncover the stories of footballers who served and died during the world wars. Arsenal and England striker Theo Walcott is featured, as he tours the RAF war cemetery at Runnymede with his grandfather, alongside fascinating and tragic stories of whole teams who joined up en-masse to fight, but who would never play football again.

The Commission has also used the expertise of teachers who regularly take children on battlefield and cemetery tours to help produce an accessible but authoritative guide to getting the most out of a visit. At www.cwgc.org/respect find practical ideas on preparing for the trip, learn about the places which inspired the war poets, and use practical exercises which demonstrate the rate at which soldiers’ lives were lost. This resource helps teach history and other subjects in an original and practical way and is pegged to particular keystages.

The Commission has also listened to those who feel school visits to cemeteries can sometimes result in behaviour which some find disrespectful. There are suggestions on how teachers can persuade children to behave responsibly.

The two websites don’t shy away from the harsh realities of the horror of war, but give teachers advice on how to teach sensitive subjects, such as the stories of men shot for cowardice.

Ranald Leask Public Relations & Media Manager +44(0)1628-507204 (direct) ranald.leask@cwgc.org

Source: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Ranald Leask, Public Relations & Media Manager, +44(0)1628-507204 (direct), ranald.leask at cwgc.org