Propaganda: the art of persuasion

What to expect in the workshop at The National Archives

In the onsite workshop students will analyse photographs, posters and a film commissioned by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War. They will evaluate how effective these would have been in convincing ordinary Britons to contribute to the war effort on the Home Front.

The two-hour workshop is led by an experienced history educator in an inspiring learning space at The National Archives in Kew. Students will have the opportunity to view numerous documents up close, including the original artwork for well-known propaganda posters, many of which were widely used and reproduced.

What to expect in the online workshop

In the online workshop in your classroom students will analyse photographs, posters and a film commissioned by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War. They will evaluate how effective these would have been in convincing ordinary Britons to contribute to the war effort on the Home Front.

The one-hour online session in your classroom is led by an experienced history educator, you only need a microphone, large screen and webcam to take part. Interactive activities encourage students to discuss their ideas and work in groups using high-quality materials provided in advance by the Education team.

Connections to the curriculum

This session supports schools focusing on a thematic study in British history (beyond 1066).