Understanding 1916
BBC: Voices 16
One year, two seismic events that shaped Ireland
A century on from the events of 1916, BBC Northern Ireland revisits the testimony of those who were witness to history and looks at how people's lives were affected by the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme.
These are not the stories of the history textbooks. Ordinary people lived through these tumultuous times and Voices 16 aims to bring their experiences to life.
Resource Intentions
- Discover personal perspectives from those who experienced the events of 1916, as well as some of the social context during a pivotal year in Ireland's history.
Areas of Learning
Environment and Society
History
Objective 1: Developing pupils as Individuals
Explore how history has affected their personal identity, culture and lifestyle.
(Personal Understanding)
Investigate individuals who are considered to have taken a significant moral stand and examine their motivation and legacy.
(Moral Character)
Objective 2: Developing pupils as Contributors to Society
Investigate the long and short term causes and consequences of the partition of Ireland and how it has influenced Northern Ireland today including key events and turning points.
(Citizenship)
Investigate the impact of significant events/ideas of the 20th century on the world.
(Cultural Understanding)
Learning for Life & Work
Local and Global Citizenship
Diversity and Inclusion
Investigate factors including religious and political that influence individual and group identity.
Language and Literacy
English with Media Education
Objective 1: Developing pupils as Individuals
Engage, through language, with their peers and with fictional and real-life characters and situations, to explore their own emotions and develop creative potential.
(Personal Understanding)
Explore and respond to others’ emotions as encountered in literature, the media, moving image and peer discussion.
(Mutual Understanding)
Explore the use of language and imagery in conveying and evoking a variety of powerful feelings.
(Spiritual Awareness)
Objective 2: Developing pupils as Contributors to Society
Explore the power of a range of communication techniques to inform, entertain, influence and persuade.
(Media Awareness)
Irish with Media Education
Objective 1: Developing pupils as Individuals
Engage, through language, with their peers and with fictional and real-life characters and situations, to explore their own emotions and develop creative potential.
(Personal Understanding)
Explore and respond to others’ emotions as encountered in literature, the media, moving image and peer discussion.
(Mutual Understanding)
Explore the use of language and imagery in conveying and evoking a variety of powerful feelings.
(Spiritual Awareness)
Objective 2: Developing pupils as Contributors to Society
Explore the power of a range of communication techniques to inform, entertain, influence and persuade.
(Media Awareness)
Cross Curricular Learning
Using ICT
Voices 16 communicates its material via personal experiences, images, video and social media, engaging pupils with the material, challenging them to think more creatively and encourage discussion.
The project could inspire tasks that would support experiences in Desktop Publishing, Presentation, Researching, Working with Moving Images and Working with Images.
Communication
The resource provides pupils with the opportunity to develop their talking and listening, reading and writing skills through independent learning and shared experience.
Opportunities to develop Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities
Using the content pupils can analyse patterns and relationships in the information with which they have been provided. They also have the opportunity to investigate and discuss the historical perspectives of meaning, ideas and attitudes relevant to the period.
As they learn about the issues and ideas of the time, students are encouraged to understand and manage not only the information available to them but also their emotions and reactions.
Providing students with the means to research new information and ideas allows them scope to take the initiative and make choices as they steer their own course through the learning.
Possible Task?
Record a dramatic diary entry
Using the “People” section on the website for inspiration, ‘become’ one of the Voices 16 People (either based in the Rising or the Somme) and record diary entries using audio editing software. Include some of the direct quotes from that person in your recording.
Areas of Learning
- The Arts (Drama)
- Language and Literacy (English/Irish with Media Education)
- Environment and Society (History)
