Unit overview

Unit plan title

World War I
Unit summary
Students will learn about World War I. How and why historians believe it started, how different groups were
effected and what life was like for a soldier. We also consider how life improved and changed after the war
and the scientific leaps made forward during this time.
Year level
9
Curriculum-framing questions
What was the significance of World War I?
Unit questions
What were the driving factors behind WWI?
How and why did society change during and after WWI?
Content questions
How did Australian society change after WWI?
What was life like during WWI?
How have inventions made during WWI continued to impact our lives?
Standards / Curriculum Outcome
An overview of the causes of World War I and the reasons why men enlisted to fight in the war
(ACDSEH021)
The places where Australians fought and the nature of warfare during World War I, including the Gallipoli
campaign (ACDSEH095)
The impact of World War I, with a particular emphasis on Australia including the changing role of women
(ACDSEH096)
Use chronological sequencing to demonstrate the relationship between events and developments in different
periods and places (ACHHS164)
Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and other methods (ACHHS168)
Use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS165)
Evaluate the reliability and usefulness of primary and secondary sources (ACHHS171)
Identify and analyse the perspectives of people from the past (ACHHS172)
Teaching and learning
Strategies
Cohort is overall a very social group and easily gets off task. Despite this most students seem to be
interested in the topic and capable of achieving. Use a range of short activities to keep momentum in the
lessons. Use a mix of group work and individual as some students work better and prefer to work
individually and some students will take advantage of group work and not participate. Keep lessons moving
quickly as if left too long on one activity students will go off task and the class is easily distracted by one or
two students. Make students accountable for group work; make sure groups expect to report on their
findings so they will make some effort with the tasks.

Activities
Class discussion
Roleplay
Debate
Investigative worksheets
Games

Quizzes
Group work

Student assessment
Students will design and create an informative flyer or poster to educate new soldiers to the
front lines. The information they use must be helpful to keep the soldier alive and educate
them about their new home. Include a list of resources used for information and pictures. 250
words

High achieving students will be able to create a professional looking poster or pamphlet following stylistic
conventions. They will include highly relevant pictures and short blocks of important information on their
chosen topic.
Lower achieving students will still be able to pass by compiling information relevant to their topic and
presenting it.

Accommodations for diverse needs

None

Learning preparation
Students prior knowledge
Basic writing tools (grammar, basic sentence structure, punctuation etc.)
Stylist conventions of posters and pamphlets
Computer literacy and word processing skills

Materials and resources

Technology - hardware
Camera

Printer

Video camera

Computer(s)

Data show projector

Video conferencing equipment

Digital camera

Scanner

Interactive white board

DVD player

Television

Mp3 player

Internet connection

VCR

PDA/mobile technologies

Other:
Technology - software
CD-roms

Editing software

Webpage development

Database/spreadsheet

Internet web browser

Word processing

Desktop publishing

Multimedia

Digital learning objects

Email software

Animation software

Other

Detailed Resource List

PowerPoint Presentations x5
Pearson History 9 Textbook
Laptops and internet connection
Horrible Histories Frightful First World War clip
Country name badges
Propaganda posters
Inventions cards and descriptions
MAIN Quiz sheets
MAIN worksheet and sources
Over the Top game http://www.warmuseum.ca/overthetop/game/
Assignment sheets
WWI letters, primary source
Indigenous soldiers worksheet
WWI Competition Quiz answer sheet
Cities (A4 paper boxes) and bombs paper balls
Memory cards
Blank European maps
Pictionary prompts
Whiteboard and markers

Lesson Breakdown
Week1

Topic

Lesson 1 (Monday 2.30)

Previous unit

Lesson 2 (Tuesday 1.45)

Previous unit

Lesson 3 (Wednesday 2.30)

Previous Unit

Lesson 4 (Friday 9.00 double)

Conditions for War

Brief

Students learn about what led

to WWI. Countries attitudes
and beliefs

Week 2
Lesson 1

No lesson

Lesson 2

Causes of War

Lesson 3

Inventions

Lesson 4

Stalemate

What set WWI in motion?

Domino effect
Students learn about the
inventions of WWI and how
some modern conveniences
started
Students look at how and why
trenches formed and what life
was like for the soldiers

Week 3
Lesson 1

Assessment

Start assessment piece

Lesson 2

Assessment

In class work on assessment

Lesson 3

Assessment

In class work on assessment

Lesson 4

No lesson

In class work on assessment

Lesson 1

Assessment

In class work on assessment

Lesson 2

Assessment

Lesson 3

Indigenous Soldiers

Lesson 4

WWI Quiz

In class work on assessment

Students discuss what life was
like for Australias Indigenous
soldiers. Why they went to war
and how they were treated
before, during and after war
Multi-format quiz base on
knowledge gained during this
unit

Week 4