DORA Explorers (2016)

Funder: Heritage Lottery

Today it is cars and digital devices getting in the way of children’s play. But in 1914 it was DORA (aka the Defence of the Realm Act), a far-reaching piece of legislation that took effect within days of Britain entering the First World War and prevented kite flying, whistling and feeding the birds.

In 2016 this fascinating Heritage Lottery Funded project saw London Play working in primary schools across London, exploring how the draconian restrictions affected children’s play. Watch the film below, check out the teachers’ resources here or dip into the blog posts (further) below.

Dora explorers Evacuee play trove

Dora explorers

DORA - A TEACHER RESOURCE

The home front is a rich aspect of understanding World War One heritage. This resource is designed to support teaching and learning about the home front across the KS2 curriculum from History to Art, Drama and Literacy, offering opportunities to inspire pupils across subject areas.

Dora explorers

DRAMA AND PLAY IN WORLD WAR ONE

Children performed theatrical sketches to show audiences what they have learned about World War One and its impact on children's lives at that time. The performances covered everything from the Girl Guides' role in the war and young boys working in factories, to children’s parks being taken over by the military.

Dora explorers

WHO ON EARTH IS DORA?

Today it is cars and digital devices getting in the way of children's play. But in 1914 it was DORA (aka the Defence of the Realm Act), which prevented playful activites including kite flying, whistling and feeding the birds...

Dora explorers

SING A SONG OF WAR TIME

Children in White City and Bethnal Green have embarked on an exciting exploration together to travel 100 years into the past to experience life during World War One. We have become…. DORA Explorers! (No, not the small Spanish kind... Explorers of World War One and the Defence of the Realm Act, aka DORA.)

Evacuee play trove

THE FINALE OF FINALES - OR IS IT?

19 OCTOBER: Well yesterday was the project finale and what an event it was! Deep beneath the corridors of power in Churchill's wartime nerve centre, the Cabinet War Rooms provided a suitably atmospheric setting for the premiere of the film and celebration event to mark the end of the project.

Evacuee play trove

EXCITING NEWS

17 July: It's been confirmed that the end of project event will be on Friday 18 October at the Churchill War Rooms! What a fitting venue - Churchill’s wartime bunker is a fascinating piece of living history; an underground maze of rooms that once buzzed with round-the-clock planning and plotting, strategies and secrets.

Evacuee play trove

GOODBYE MOTHER

25 June: Children in Tower Hamlets and across London have put aside their computer games and discovered first-hand the simple fun that their grandparents made for themselves, in a ground breaking project which has bridged the generational divide.

Evacuee play trove

THE TRAIN HAS LEFT THE STATION

First month and launch of London Play’s Evacuee Play Trove project! Tomorrow I’m meeting with our partners, Museum of London and the Half Moon theatre. I’m very excited about the prospect of interviewing 30 former evacuees. Listening to their fascinating stories bring to life their experiences during the evacuation and their war time play experience.

Evacuee play trove

THE EVACUEE PLAY TROVE

The ‘Evacuee Play Trove’ is the online home of an impressive archive of memories, games and pictures gathered and produced during the course of the project.

Evacuee play trove

FILM STARS YOUNG AND OLD

10 June: I have just come back from a full on day of filming the evacuees, I learnt so much. There so many people to coordinate in the crew. I’m looking forward to filming at St John’s Primary on Friday. Teresa the teacher said the children can’t wait to be on TV. Well we will

Evacuee play trove

GOODBYE MOTHER

Children in Tower Hamlets and across London put aside their computer games last week and discovered first-hand the simple fun that their grandparents made for themselves, in a ground breaking project which has bridged the generational divide.

Evacuee play trove

EVACUEE INTERVIEWS UNDERWAY

21 March: We are half way through interviewing 30 former evacuees. I feel privileged and humbled to listen to their stories. I’m looking forward to the reaction from children at the schools we are working with, when they hear how happy the evacuees were, playing with so little.

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