B1: World War II: A Child’s Life During the War

World War II began in 1939 and lasted until 1945. It was one of the largest and most important wars in history. Many countries were involved, and millions of people were affected by the conflict.

But what was life like for children during the war?

In many countries, children had to change their normal lives. Some children had to leave their homes because their cities were dangerous. They were sometimes sent to live with relatives or with families in safer areas. This could be difficult because they had to say goodbye to their parents and friends.

Children who stayed in cities also had to follow special rules. During air raids, families often went into shelters to protect themselves from bombs. At night, people sometimes had to turn off their lights. This was called a blackout. The darkness made it harder for enemy aircraft to see cities from the sky.

Food was another problem. During the war, many countries had a shortage of important products. Governments introduced rationing, which meant that people could only buy a limited amount of certain foods and other goods. Children might receive a ration book, and families had to carefully plan their meals.

Despite these difficulties, children still found ways to enjoy themselves. They played games, went to school when possible, read books, and spent time with their friends. Some children also helped their families by collecting materials that could be reused for the war effort.

World War II changed the lives of millions of children. Many experienced fear and uncertainty, but they also showed courage and learned to adapt to difficult circumstances. Their stories help us understand what life was like for ordinary people during one of the most important events of the twentieth century.

B1 Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example
conflict	a serious disagreement or fight, especially between countries or groups	World War II was a major conflict between many countries.
shelter	a safe place where people can stay to protect themselves from danger	The family went into a shelter during the air raid.
shortage	a situation in which there is not enough of something	There was a shortage of food during the war.
rationing	a system that limits how much of something people can buy	Rationing meant that families could not buy as much food as they wanted.
adapt	to change your behavior or way of living because of a new situation	Children had to adapt to life during the war.

Reading Worksheet

Part 1 — Understanding the Article

Answer the questions in complete sentences.

1. When did World War II begin and end?

2. Why did some children have to leave their homes?

3. What did people do during an air raid?

4. What was a blackout?

5. Why did governments introduce rationing?

6. How did children continue to enjoy themselves during the war?

7. What did children sometimes collect for the war effort?

8. What two qualities did many children show during this difficult time?

Part 2 — Vocabulary

Choose the correct word from the box.

conflict | shelter | shortage | rationing | adapt

1. During the bombing, the family ran to a __________.

2. There was a __________ of food, so people could not buy everything they wanted.

3. World War II was a huge international __________.

4. Families had to __________ to their new way of life.

5. The government introduced __________ to control the amount of food people could buy.

Part 3 — Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence using one of the five vocabulary words.

1. When people are in danger, they may need to find a safe __________.

2. A __________ happens when there is not enough of something.

3. People often need to __________ when their situation changes.

4. A war is a type of international __________.

5. During __________, people can only buy a limited amount of certain products.

Part 4 — True or False?

Write T for true or F for false.

1. _____ World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945.

2. _____ All children stayed in their homes during the war.

3. _____ A blackout helped protect cities from enemy aircraft.

4. _____ Rationing meant that people could buy unlimited amounts of food.

5. _____ Children stopped playing and going to school completely.

6. _____ Children sometimes helped their families and communities.

Part 5 — Think and Speak

Discuss these questions together.

1. Imagine you were ten years old during World War II. What would be the most difficult part of your life? Why?

2. What three things would you miss if you had to leave your home?

3. What would you do to help your family during a difficult time?

4. Do you think children today could adapt to the kind of life children experienced during WWII? Why or why not?

5. Which part of the article surprised you the most?

Challenge: Use the Vocabulary

Tell your teacher a short story about a child living during WWII. Try to use at least three of these words:

conflict • shelter • shortage • rationing • adapt