Learning By Topic KS2 & KS3 : World War 2 and Mathematics

During WWII, messages were encoded to stop the enemy getting information and cracking codes was crucial for getting the upper hand. Create a number code for the alphabet (e.g. a =1 b=2 be a bit more adventurous than this example) write your theme words using this code – can anyone crack your codes?!

Now ask an adult to write some complex addition, subtraction, multiplication and division sums in this code. Can you decode these and then solve them?

Trenches were more common in Europe during WW1 however trenches were used by countries in the Pacific during WWII. A typical trench was 1.5 metres wide and 3 metres deep and British soldiers often dug at a length of 250 metres at a time. With the above measurements can you work out the perimeter and area of a typical trench?

Life in the trenches could be quite grim and it often rained, filling up the soldiers safe holds with water. With the above measurements, find the volume of water the trench could hold.

What is the ratio of British planes to German planes shot down during the Battle of Britain?

What 3D shapes did you use for your model Spitfire? Can you list/label the properties for each 3D shape e.g. number of faces and vertices?

What is the estimated total of deaths during WWII? What percentage of the world population was this at the time?

Find the total number of British casualties in WWII. Now find out what the population of the UK was before war broke out, what percentage of the population died during WWII?

What was the total of casualties for the British Empire and Commonwealth? How many served? What percentage died? 

Convert your percentages into fractions and decimals.