The Impact of World War I

Abstract

This resource pack focuses on the big six concepts of history: Cause and Consequence, Change and Continuity, Historical Significance, Historical Perspective, Ethical Dimension, and Evidence. They will be applied to several lessons focusing on World War I. The first lesson focuses on the causes of WWI and the repercussions that ensued. The students will understand how alliance systems, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism were all causes of WWI, and the effect they had on the countries involved. A group research project and informal presentation will achieve this goal. The second lesson focuses on technological advancements leading up to and during the war. Students will understand how technology changed as well as remained the same, and create an advertisement pertaining to one technological advancement to present to the class. The third lesson focuses on the pivotal battle of Vimy Ridge and questions the significance of that battle. Students will understand the political, wartime and society significance this battle had on Canada. The fourth lesson focusses on World War I Posters and how they are used for propaganda. Students will study the posters from different countries and look at the similarities and differences in them. They will then use these elements to create their own war posters. The fifth lesson focusses on the conscription crisis in 1917. Students will learn the impact this vote had on society and how it separated Canadians. Students will look at primary sources on the different views on conscription and they will write their own diary page from the perspective of a historical person.The sixth lesson focusses on the ethical question of Internment during World War I. Students will learn how to identify and generate their own ethical judgments and apply them to research they conduct on Internment.