The Great War: World War I Then and Now

Week 2 Endings and Innocence Lost, Lesson 10

Lesson Title: How the First World War Changed the World Forever
Grade Level: 12 Time/Duration: 90 mins.
Lesson Overview: This lesson will focus on illustrating how single events can reverberate
throughout history and have tremendous effect ten, twenty, fifty, even one hundred years from
the time they occur. It will begin by discussing immediate effects both on the world as a whole
and on individual soldiers who were returning home. It will then branch out into how these
events set the stage for various major events of the early 20th century, such as the economic
boom (in the US) during the 20s, the Great Depression of the 30s, and the Second World War of
the 40s. This lesson will lead directly into the rest of the lessons in this unit where students will
be asked to consider an event from World War I and how study of it has changed over the past
100 years.
Standard(s): Tennessee US.30, W.35, W.37.
Color Key:
Web Resources
Lecture Types
Instructional Models/Strategies/Pedagogical Resources
Primary Sources
Essential Questions:
What was the purpose of the war? What was achieved by fighting it? What was lost by
fighting it?
How did World War I immediately change the world?
How did World War I change the world forever?
What can we learn from the way the events of the war played out? How can our
understanding of the war influence the future?
Instructional Objectives:
1. Students will connect various events in history and describe how these events influenced
or were influenced by one another.
2. Students will make inferences about how World War I changed the world then and how it
is still effecting events today.
Academic Vocabulary:
The Lost Generation
Modernism
Modernist
Reparations

Introduction:

Bell Ringer Question: Think of an event from your life either positive or negative
and jot down a quick outline of how it came to pass. For example: A play-by-play
account of how you joined the football team and what happened in your first game. An
account of a music recital or art exhibition, the preparation that lead up to it, and how the
events of the recital or exhibition unfolded. Etc. Then think of how that event has
impacted your life overall and write down your thoughts. Maybe the success of your first
football game has led you to decide to pursue playing football in college, or maybe your
first music recital or art exhibition has made you want to pursue art or music in college.
Or, perhaps, a bad experience with a sports team or in a creative endeavor has turned you
from the activities forever, etc. Explain. (10-20 mins.)

Lesson Sequence:

Guided Lecture This lecture will begin by reiterating what was learned the previous
day. That information will be tied into todays lecture. This lecture will illustrate the
ripple effect of history. It will start with the teacher discussing the immediate effects of
the war, both broad and narrow. In the broad sense, the devastation in Europe, the
shaming of Germany, the war reparations, etc., which were touched on the previous day,
will be discussed. In the narrow sense, the damage that was wrecked on the soldiers
lives will be discussed, such as their injuries and the booming prosthetics industry that
grew out of the sheer number of disfiguring wounds inflicted and advances in technology
(which will be compared and contrasted with the devastating wounds suffered by those
in the American Civil War). Particular attention will also be paid to how the war affected
writers and artists of the time and students will be asked to tie this information to
information they may have learned in English and/or Art class. From there the lecture
will branch outwards and students will be asked to openly discuss how they think the
devastation in Europe, the war reparations, and the shaming of Germany contributed to
the Great Depression and to the rise of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, and the start of
World War II. From there students will be asked to extrapolate even further outward and
discuss how WWI ties into the events of the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam
War, and even modern political climates. The purpose of this lecture is to show students
how one event can reverberate throughout the centuries, and students will be asked to
refer back to their bell ringer for how a single event has reverberated through their lives
as well. The lecture will be similar to a Socratic Seminar and will be informal
students will be allowed to openly discuss their thoughts and opinions. The teacher will
guide the students through the lecture, providing prompts and information to help
students make the connections on their own. (~50 mins.)

Closure:

Wrap Up Devote 20 minutes to summarizing/recapping the war, then allow students

ample time to ask any additional questions they may have. (~20 mins.)

Extension/Enrichment/Re-teach:
Extension: Students will be asked to extend their understanding of the information multiple
times throughout the lecture as they consider questions posed by the teacher, their own
questions, and the questions of others. Students will also be required to extend the historical
information they are learning to their own lives in personal and meaningful ways.
Enrichment: The lesson is designed so that students with various learning styles will be able
to engage with the content in a way that they feel comfortable information will be
disseminated both visually and orally. Graphic organizers will be available for those who
wish to use them. Those with learning and other disabilities can be easily accommodated
with various learning aids and additional help as necessary.
Re-teach: Re-teaching will take place every day at the start of the lecture, following the bell
ringer, so that students will be reminded of what was discussed the previous day. It will also
take place throughout the lesson where appropriate and necessary.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Informal Formative assessments will take place throughout the lecture. As students engage
with the presented material through open discussion with the teacher and other students and
through specific questions asked throughout the lecture their responses, participation, and
engagement levels will be assessed by the teacher.
A Summative Assessment will also take place at the end of this lesson. Students journals,
in which they record each days bell ringers, discussion notes, and any written classroom
assignments or group work, will be collected and a grade for the week will be given.
Students graphic organizers from this lesson will be included in the journal and will also be
reviewed and graded.
Instructional Materials/Resources/Equipment:

Computer, internet access, and speakers.

Compare and Contrast sheet, or other graphic organizers, such as a web diagrams or
content mappers.
White Board, markers, etc.