Ethnic diversity

3. Diversity in the World Wars

Required Resources

• Slides 12-35
• Student Worksheets 1-2

Delivery

• Before starting this Episode, you may use Slide 12-14 to give some historical context about the British Empire.
• Ask students to suggest how many people from the countries listed on Slide 15 fought in WW1.
• Distribute Student Worksheet 1a-1b to your class which provides background to the diverse ethnic minorities that served in the war. Ask students to read the information and highlight any facts or figures relating to the contribution of ethnic minorities.
• Revisit Slide 15 and ask students to provide the correct statistics for the number of serving personnel from each country. Slide 16 shows figures relating to the number of troops killed from different colonies and dominions from the British Empire during WW1. Again, ask students to match the quantities to the relevant countries. Discuss whether they anticipated these numbers?
• On Student Worksheet 1b and on Slide 17 there are some questions about the British West Indies Regiment. Ask students to discuss in pairs their thoughts about whether the mutiny was justified and to imagine how they would feel in this situation. Feedback as a class.
• Now distribute Student Worksheet 2 which contains background to the ethnic minorities that served in the World War 2. Give students time to digest this information.
• Slide 18 provides a further visual representation of the countries that provided troops to support Britain in the World War.
• At the end of Student Worksheet 2 and on Slide 19 there are some questions about whether the students would be prepared to fight for another country and how they would feel in this situation. Ask students to discuss in pairs and then feedback as a class.
• Note: The British Armed Forces are committed to supporting other countries in order to maintain or restore peace e.g. British troops serving in Cyprus since the 1960s and troops sent to Sierra Leone in 1999 to bring an end to their Civil War.
• Slides 20-31 provides a visual depiction of the diverse and varied ethnic personnel that served pre 1914 and during the World Wars.
• Finish this Episode by explaining how the recruitment of ethnic minorities has evolved since the World Wars to present day using Slides 32-35. Acknowledge that today, the MOD does not tolerate discrimination or prejudice and that they are committed to equal opportunities for all ethnic groups.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Mixed ability pairs.