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Table of Contents
The Anderson shelter was designed in 1938 by William Paterson and Oscar Carl Kerrison in response to a request from the Home Office. It was named after Sir John Anderson, who was responsible for preparing air-raid precautions immediately before the start of World War II. See below for more information and Anderson shelter facts.
- Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain placed Sir John Anderson in charge of Air Raid Precautions in November 1938. Anderson then commissioned an engineer by the name of William Patterson to design and build a small, cheap shelter that people could have in their garden.
- The first ‘Anderson’ shelter was erected in 1939. It was built in a garden in Islington, London on 25 February, 1939.
- 1.5 million Anderson shelters were given to people before the start of World War 2. These shelters were distributed between February 1939 and the start of the war in September to people in areas that were expected to be bombed by the Luftwaffe.
- Throughout WW1, another 2.1 million Anderson shelters were built.
- The shelters were given free to anybody who earned less than £250 a year. Anybody with a higher income could buy an Anderson shelter for £7.
- The construction of the shelters were quite simple. They were made from six curved panels of corrugated steel that were bolted together at the top. They had steel plates at either end, and measured 1.95m by 1.35m.
- Once they were built, the shelters were buried up to 1m into the ground. They would then have a thick layer of soil and turf heaped on top to keep them secure.
- The Anderson shelter was built to accommodate up to six people.
- The shelters were quite cramped for taller people. Somebody over 6ft would have found it difficult to fit inside comfortably.
- The Anderson shelter was incredibly strong. They were especially strong against a compressive force – for example the explosion of a nearby bomb – because of their corrugation.
- It was very cold inside the Anderson shelter. In fact, to try and prevent people from leaving their shelter to go back to their warmer homes at night, the Government issued some guidelines on how to make them warmer and more comfortable. The Morrison shelter was also developed to be used inside the home.
- People were expected to assemble their own shelters. Families would receive their shelter with an instruction guide and materials to put the Anderson shelter together.
- A lot of Anderson shelters still exist today. Many people dug up the shelters after the war and used them as garden sheds.
- Many families used to try and brighten up their shelters. They would often grow flowers and vegetables on the roof. One person actually wrote: “There is more danger of being hit by a vegetable marrow falling off the roof, than of being hit by a bomb!”.
- Strategic German bombing of the UK from 1939-1945 killed around 50,000 people. UK attacks on German cities killed ten times as many people – around 500,000 – which shows just how effective the Anderson shelter was.
- A survey in November 1940 survey discovered that only 27% of Londoners used Anderson shelters. 9% slept in public shelters and 4% used underground railway stations. The remaining 60% of people were either on duty at night or slept in their own homes. They said that if they were going to die they would rather die in the comfort of their own home.
Anderson Shelter Worksheets
This bundle includes 11 ready-to-use Anderson Shelter worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about The Anderson shelter which was designed in 1938 by William Paterson and Oscar Carl Kerrison in response to a request from the Home Office. It was named after Sir John Anderson, who was responsible for preparing air-raid precautions immediately before the start of World War II.
Throughout the extensive worksheet pack there are multiple lesson resources and quizzes for students to practice their knowledge which can be used within the classroom or homeschooling environment.
Included Anderson Shelter worksheets:
Anderson Shelter Word Search
Students will tackle this Anderson Shelter quiz in the form of a word search which students will complete using the knowledge gained from previous activities and quizzes.
Students must write TRUE if the statement is correct. Otherwise change the underlined word/s to make it correct.
Analyse the Parts
Analysis writing task. Analyse the different parts of the Anderson Shelter then answer the given questions.
Air Raid precautions task. Students must analyse the instruction card and then answer a number of challenging questions.
Cartoon Analysis
Questions and answers piece based upon analysis of a cartoon image.
Inside A Shelter
Inside a shelter writing piece. Students must read the passage and answer a number of challenging emotive questions.
My Life During World War II
Creative writing task. Students must imagine themselves in World War 2 and share their thoughts in the shape of a diary entry.
Design A Shelter
Fun, creative task. Students must design their own Shelter. Utilise the space to create a prototype design.
Local Interview
Students must interview someone locally or create an interview for someone who experienced an Air Raid.
A Special Letter
Students must write an emotive, special letter to those caught up in conflict today.
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Link will appear as Anderson Shelter Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 14, 2016
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.
