The Phoney War (1939-40) Lesson

© History Skills
© History Skills

Learning objectives

In this lesson, students will examine the period known as the Phoney War, exploring why Britain and France hesitated to act offensively against Germany in the months following the invasion of Poland in 1939. They will investigate the key military decisions and naval engagements that defined this tense period, as well as the Soviet Union's Winter War against Finland, before Germany launched its assault on Western Europe in 1940. Students will have the opportunity to achieve this through choosing their own method of learning, from reading and research options, as well as the chance to engage in extension activities. This lesson includes a self-marking quiz for students to demonstrate their learning.

How would you like to learn?

Option 1: Reading


Step 1: Download the reading questions worksheet below:

Download
Phoney War Reading Questions.docx
Microsoft Word Document 27.2 KB

Step 2: Answer the questions while reading the webpage below:


Option 2: Internet research


Download a copy of the research worksheet and use the internet to complete the tables.

Download
Phoney War Research Worksheet.docx
Microsoft Word Document 23.9 KB

Test your learning



Extension Activities



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