Nature of Trench Warfare

Year 9

World War I (1914-1918): The places where Australians fought and the nature of warfare during World War I,
including the Gallipoli campaign (ACDSEH095)

Chronology, Terms and Concepts

• Sequence events chronologically to demonstrate the relationship between events in different periods and places (ACHHS164)
• Use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS165)
• Identify and select different kinds of questions about the past to inform historical inquiry (ACHHS166)
• Evaluate and enhance these questions (ACHHS167)
• Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and other methods (ACHHS168)

Analysis and Use of Sources

• Identify the origin, purpose and context of primary and secondary sources (ACHHS169)
• Process and synthesise information from a range of sources for use as evidence in an historical argument (ACHHS170)
• Evaluate the reliability and usefulness of primary and secondary sources (ACHHS171)
• Identify and analyse the perspectives of people from the past (ACHHS172)
• Identify and analyse different historical interpretations (including their own) (ACHHS173)
• Develop historical texts, particularly explanations and historical arguments that use evidence from a range of sources (ACHHS174)
• Select and use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies (ACHHS175)

Knowledge and Understandings Learning Process

Nature of Trench Warfare Nature of Trench Warfare

Goal
To appreciate what it was like for
soldiers fighting in the trenches
in World War I.
Fighting in World War I was
characterised by trench warfare.
Trench warfare involved building
elaborate system of trenches,
bunkers, sand bag walls, sumps
etc, from which soldiers fired at
the enemy.
At times, soldiers would be
commanded to get out of the
trench and run into ‘no man’s
land’, firing into the enemy’s
trench. Conditions were
dangerous, frightening,
unhealthy and soul destroying.
Industrialisation paved the way
for the introduction of new
weapons into warfare including
tanks, planes and gas.
Engage
Hell in the trenches
Explain that in World War I, the main way in which soldiers fought against
each other was from trenches. Show students a clip from All Quiet on the
Western Front, to illustrate what is meant by ‘trench warfare’. Explain that
some students may find it distressing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=SXtsiqrhqsU
In pairs, brainstorm how soldiers on both sides must have felt being engaged
in trench warfare. Share results as a class.
Information
Trench warfare
Have students discover the various parts and functions of a trench by clicking
on an online picture with descriptions of a trench system:
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/trenches.htm#Trench_System.
Afterwards, have students complete a timed Quick Quiz based on the
diagrams: http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/trenchquickquiz.htm.
Students could also complete one or more of the following:
 Trench Word Games
 Comprehension questions:
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Lessons/worksheets/ww1/trenches.
doc

Organise
Weapons
Have students read, Weapons, and highlight or underline 1-2 main points in
each section.

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This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
 Create
Letter home
Have a volunteer read aloud an extract from German Deserter’s War
Experience:
It was dark, and it rained and rained. From all directions one heard in
the darkness the wounded calling, crying, and moaning. The
wounded we had with us were likewise moaning and crying. All
wanted to have their wounds dressed, but we had no more
bandages. We tore off pieces of our dirty shirts and placed the rags
on those sickening wounds. Men were dying one after the other.
There were no doctors, no bandages; we had nothing whatever. You
had to help the wounded and keep the French off at the same time. It
was an unbearable, impossible state of things. It rained harder and
harder. We were wet to our skins. We fired blindly into the darkness.
The rolling fire of rifles increased, then died away, then increased
again. We sappers were placed among the infantry. My neighbour
gave me a dig in the ribs."
Have students imagine they are a soldier fighting in a trench. Drawing on
information from throughout the lesson, they are to write a letter home to their
family describing what life is like fighting in the trenches.

Reflect
Compare letters
In groups of 3-4, have students read their letters aloud. Discuss the
similarities and differences between the letters.

Assessment
Write a letter home to your family describing what life is like as a soldier fighting in the trenches in WWI.

Standards http://curriculumorganiser.com.au/organiser/openlink?
linkurl=australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Curriculum/F-10?y=9

Teacher Resources IWB T

Student Resources IWB S

Weapons word search: http://historyonthenet.com/WW1/weaponswordsearch.htm
Weapons cross word: http://historyonthenet.com/WW1/weaponscrossword.htm
Weapons quick quiz: http://historyonthenet.com/WW1/weaponsquickquiz.htm

© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au

This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
 Lesson Planner

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© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au

This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au