THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES A teaching resource

Today we are going to learn.. What the word ‘Community’ means How communities have worked together, now and in the past, to make the world a better place Why it is important to respect others and their property

We are going to do this by.. Looking at the way that British people have worked together at two specific times in History to cope with attacks on their community, in these years: 2011 and 1940

In August 2011 there were a series of disturbances called riots in several British towns and cities. These were caused by crowds of people who broke the law by destroying buildings and stealing property from shops and other people. It was so bad that some people even died. The British riots: August 2011

What does ‘Community’ mean? 1.A group of people with sweeping brushes 2.A group of people who either live in the same area or have similar interests in common 3.Any group of people During these riots these people became known as “The Broom Army”. They are an example of what we call a ‘Community’. Can you work out from looking at it what the word ‘Community’ means? Is it:

The answer is.. 2. A group of people who either live in the same area or have similar interests or aims in common

These people came together as a community in August 2011 when they saw what had happened in their own areas and in other areas on the TV.

Why do you think the ‘broom army’ gathered together? (discuss it with a partner or the rest of the class then click for the answer)

They gathered because they wanted to help to clean up the streets after the riots, bringing sweeping brushes and shovels to tidy up, and help the work of the Police, Fire and Ambulance services who were busy trying to protect their towns. Some of them even came from many miles away to help because they heard about it on a new type of community we have in 2011 called Twitter, using the word #riotcleanup. Here are some comments and ‘tweets’ from the time..

“We have been offered paint and tools. If somewhere in your community needs re painting. Get in touch! :) ” "They have cleaned up our shop in 15 minutes. It would have taken us hours. It's wonderful that so many people care." "I thought we needed to do something. So I tweeted about it and the word spread quickly." "This is my town, my home and I want to clear it up" “We proved today how standing together makes the community stronger!”

Why do you think they wanted to help? Discuss why then click the picture to read the reasons they gave

Why do you think they wanted to help? Discuss why then click the picture to read the reasons they gave "I came because people can't smash things up and get away with it. It's disgusting." "I thought, 'I can't sit here and not do anything. I can't walk past these shop owners without having helped'. So here I am." "I came here today to show solidarity with my community." "If there are more people cleaning up than rioting then that's great for the community."

You can belong to all sorts of communities at once, based on where you live or what you are interested in, such as these people who belonged at the same time to the ‘twitter’ community, and also, when they began helping, to the community of helpers “A group of people who either live in the same area or have similar interests or aims in common” How many different communities do you belong to? Remember what it means:

The way that people came together after the riots was a wonderful example of the good things that people can achieve if they work together as a community. However this isn’t the only time that this has happened in Britain..

The Blitz – 1940 "London lived through the Blitz. People like my Grandad, who lived in Peckham, got out there every morning, picked up the pieces and got on with it.“ A member of the Broom Army, 2011

Over seventy years ago during the Second World War, many people living in towns and cities across Britain had their homes and places of work destroyed by falling German bombs, and many, many thousands were also killed. The Blitz – 1940

This went on for longer than the 2011 riots and was known as “The Blitz”, from the German word “Blitzkrieg” meaning “Lightning Storm”. Although it was a long time ago the British communities responded to the problem in very similar ways to the “Broom Army”. Look at the three pictures on the next pages and describe what the community is doing to help each other survive through the Blitz.

Neighbours and passers-by help Air Raid Wardens to rescue a man from his bombed house Discuss the picture then click for the answer

The community shares a cup of tea and some cake in an air raid shelter on the London Underground

A home owner plays music for the soldiers and wardens who have been rescuing people in her street Discuss the picture then click for the answer

Do you think this is similar or different to the way the “Broom Army” helped people in 2011? When you have discussed this click again to see if you can spot the difference between what people from the two communities said.

Which quote is from which year? “We listened politely and when he called for volunteers, I said I would go along to be trained.” 1940 "We've gone from being terrified to being united. It's a lovely sign that Britain is still Britain. People are making the best of it." “I spent my 21st birthday party looking after all the people. The baker’s shop even made me some cakes.” “It's good to see there's a real sense of community with people from all over Liverpool - a vicar, mums and students - coming to help."

As you can see, there is hardly any difference between the feelings of both sets of helpers from 1940 and Both groups realised how wrong it was for their towns to be attacked and decided to do something very special to help each other. They knew that they had the RIGHT to a safe life in a safe area and the RESPONSIBILITY to look after it, even if other people who rioted or dropped bombs didn’t agree with them.

Your tasks Choose one of these two tasks to complete. Your teacher might have already chosen one for you and will give you more details. 1.Write a letter to a 1940 German Bomber Pilot or a 2011 rioter as if you were a person in the Blitz or one of the “Broom Army”. How would you feel and what would you say? 2. Work with a friend to come up with a list of at least three COMMUNITY PROMISES to improve the lives of the people in your school over the next week.

Learning check Do you now know.. What the word ‘Community’ means? How communities have worked together, now and in the past, to make the world a better place? Why it is important to respect others and their property?

This has been a Blitz School FREE Teaching Resource Brilliantly interactive WW2 JUNIOR AIR RAID WARDEN TRAINING workshops in the comfort of your school