Script: Guiding the Great War

Warm-Up: What Do You Know? (10 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Good morning, class! Today, we're diving into a pivotal moment in history: World War I, also known as The Great War. To get us started, I've handed out a Warm-Up Activity: What Do You Know? worksheet. Please take about 5 minutes to quietly jot down anything you already know or any questions you have about World War I. There are no wrong answers here; I just want to see what's already on your mind."

(Allow 5 minutes for students to write. Circulate the room to monitor and offer assistance if needed.)

(Teacher says): "Alright, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share something they wrote down? Maybe a fact you remember, a name, a battle, or even a question you have? Don't be shy!"

(Facilitate a brief discussion, drawing out student knowledge. Connect their responses to the upcoming lesson.)

(Teacher says): "Excellent! It sounds like we have some great starting points. Many of your questions and ideas are exactly what we'll be exploring today. Let's make sure we have a solid foundation."

Introduction & Key Events (25 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Let's begin our journey through the Slide Deck: Echoes of the Great War. As we go through these slides, I'll be talking through the material, but please feel free to raise your hand and ask questions at any point. We'll start with the underlying causes that made Europe a ticking time bomb."

(Advance to Slide 2: The Road to War: Underlying Causes)

(Teacher says): "As you can see, there wasn't just one reason for WWI. It was a perfect storm of several factors. Can anyone explain what 'militarism' means in their own words? Why would building up armies lead to war?"

(Allow for student responses.)

(Teacher says): "Exactly! It's like an arms race. And then you have these complex 'alliances.' Imagine having a group of best friends who promise to always stick up for each other. Now imagine two different groups of friends, and if one group gets into a fight, all their friends jump in. That's essentially what happened on a national scale. What about 'imperialism' or 'nationalism'? How did these contribute?"

(Allow for student responses.)

(Teacher says): "Great points. Now, all these tensions needed a trigger. And that trigger came on June 28, 1914."

(Advance to Slide 3: The Spark: Assassination in Sarajevo)

(Teacher says): "The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the event that set off the chain reaction. Austria-Hungary, blaming Serbia, declared war. And because of those alliances we just discussed, nearly all of Europe was dragged into the conflict within weeks. What do you think would have happened if there were no alliances? Would the war have spread as quickly?"

(Allow for student responses.)

(Teacher says): "Good thinking. The nature of warfare itself changed dramatically during WWI."

(Advance to Slide 4: The Western Front: A New Kind of War)

(Teacher says): "The Western Front became infamous for 'trench warfare.' Can you imagine living in these muddy, dangerous ditches for months, even years? What challenges would soldiers face in this environment?"

(Allow for student responses.)

(Teacher says): "It was truly horrific. And it was made even worse by new technologies. Machine guns, poison gas, tanks – these weapons changed the face of battle forever. What impact do you think these new weapons had on the number of casualties?"

(Allow for student responses.)

(Teacher says): "Precisely. Millions lost their lives. For a long time, the United States stayed out of this European conflict."

(Advance to Slide 5: America Joins the Fight)

(Teacher says): "Initially, the U.S. wanted no part of it. But two key events pushed America into the war. Can anyone tell me about 'unrestricted submarine warfare' or the 'Zimmermann Telegram'? What made these events so significant?"

(Allow for student responses.)

(Teacher says): "Excellent. America's entry in 1917 was a game-changer. It brought fresh troops and resources to the exhausted Allied powers."

(Advance to Slide 6: The End of the Fighting)

(Teacher says): "With American forces arriving, the tide began to turn. The Central Powers were exhausted. Finally, on November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed, ending the fighting. This date is still commemorated today. What does an armistice mean? How is it different from a peace treaty?"

(Allow for student responses.)

Reading & Deeper Dive (20 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Now that we've covered the major events and the end of the fighting, we're going to read a document called Reading: A World Transformed. This reading will give you more details about the impact of the war. You can read this individually or with a partner. As you read, think about the human cost and the significant turning points mentioned."

(Distribute the reading. Circulate the room to answer questions and provide support.)

Worksheet Activity: Events & Impacts (20 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Now that you've read about the war's impact, let's put our knowledge to work. I'm handing out the Worksheet: Events & Impacts. This worksheet asks you to connect some of the major events we've discussed to their immediate and broader impacts. Use your notes, the slides, and the reading to help you complete it. You can work individually or in small groups for this activity."

(Distribute the worksheet. Circulate to assist students and encourage critical thinking.)

Discussion: Legacies of War (10 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Great work on the worksheet! Now, let's shift our focus to the results of the war. World War I didn't just end; it fundamentally reshaped the world. Let's look at the peace settlement."

(Advance to Slide 7: The Treaty of Versailles)

(Teacher says): "The Treaty of Versailles was the official peace treaty, and it was quite harsh, especially towards Germany. They lost territory, had military restrictions, and were forced to accept the 'War Guilt Clause' and pay massive reparations. Why do you think the victorious powers imposed such harsh terms? What might be the consequences of such a treaty?"

(Allow for student responses. Guide them to consider resentment and future instability.)

(Teacher says): "Indeed. These harsh terms would have significant repercussions later on. But there was also an attempt to create a new, more peaceful world."

(Advance to Slide 8: A New Hope: The League of Nations)

(Teacher says): "President Woodrow Wilson proposed the League of Nations, an international organization designed to prevent future wars through collective security. It was a groundbreaking idea! Why do you think an organization like this was so important after such a devastating war? What might be the challenges for such an organization?"

(Allow for student responses, highlighting the U.S. non-involvement as a major challenge.)

(Teacher says): "Precisely. Despite its noble goals, the League faced significant challenges. Finally, let's summarize the overall impact."

(Advance to Slide 9: The Aftermath: A World Transformed)

(Teacher says): "As you can see, the results of WWI were monumental. Millions died, economies were shattered, empires fell, and new nations emerged. We also saw significant social changes. What's one result here that you find particularly impactful, and why?"

(Allow for student responses, encouraging them to think about how WWI set the stage for WWII and other 20th-century events. Use the Discussion Guide: Legacies of War to further prompt students if needed.)

Cool Down: One Last Thought (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "We've covered a lot today about World War I. To wrap things up, I'm going to hand out a Cool Down: One Last Thought ticket. On this ticket, please write down one key takeaway from today's lesson, or one lingering question you still have. This helps me understand what resonated with you and what we might need to revisit. Please hand them to me as you leave."

(Distribute cool-down tickets and collect them as students finish.)

(Teacher says): "Thank you, class! You've done excellent work today thinking critically about this important historical period."

Warm-Up Activity: What Do You Know?

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about World War I (The Great War). Write down anything you already know, remember, or associate with this historical event. If you have any questions about WWI, feel free to write those down too!

What I know about World War I:

Questions I have about World War I:

Reading: A World Transformed - The Major Events and Results of World War I

The Great War Begins

World War I, often called "The Great War," was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved the Central Powers (primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria) against the Allied Powers (primarily France, Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States). The roots of the war were complex, stemming from a combination of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism across Europe.

The Spark that Ignited Europe

The immediate trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist. This act set off a chain reaction due to the intricate system of alliances. Austria-Hungary, with Germany's backing, declared war on Serbia. Russia mobilized to support Serbia, leading Germany to declare war on Russia and France. When Germany invaded Belgium to attack France, Britain declared war on Germany, pulling almost all of Europe into the devastating conflict.

A New Kind of Warfare: The Western Front

The early stages of the war on the Western Front quickly devolved into a brutal stalemate characterized by trench warfare. Soldiers dug vast networks of trenches, leading to static battle lines and horrific conditions. Advances were often measured in yards and came at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives. New and terrifying technologies emerged, including:

• Machine Guns: Capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute, making frontal assaults suicidal.
• Artillery: Massive cannons that could shell enemy positions from miles away.
• Poison Gas: First used by Germany, it caused agonizing deaths and injuries, leading to the widespread use of gas masks.
• Tanks: Introduced by the British, these armored vehicles were designed to break through trench lines.
• Airplanes: Initially used for reconnaissance, they soon became combat aircraft, leading to dogfights in the skies.

Life in the trenches was unsanitary, dangerous, and psychologically scarring. Casualties mounted at an unprecedented rate, creating a generation of soldiers forever marked by the war.

War on Other Fronts

While the Western Front was largely static, fighting occurred across the globe. The Eastern Front saw Germany and Austria-Hungary battling Russia, with more fluid lines of combat but equally devastating losses. The Ottoman Empire fought the British and French in the Middle East, while colonial troops from Africa and Asia were involved in various campaigns.

America Joins the Fight

For the first three years, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality, though it supplied the Allied powers with resources. However, two key events eventually drew America into the conflict:

1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany's policy of sinking any ship, including civilian vessels, in the war zone around Britain without warning. The sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, killing over a hundred Americans, fueled anti-German sentiment.
2. Zimmermann Telegram: In 1917, British intelligence intercepted and decoded a telegram from Germany's foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann, to Mexico. It proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the U.S. entered the war, promising Mexico the return of lost territories in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This outraged the American public.

On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany. The arrival of fresh American troops and vast resources provided a critical boost to the exhausted Allied forces.

The End of The Great War

By late 1918, the Central Powers were collapsing. Germany faced severe food shortages, widespread dissent, and a rapidly dwindling army. The combined pressure from Allied offensives, bolstered by American troops, proved too much. On November 11, 1918, an armistice (an agreement to stop fighting) was signed, bringing an end to the brutal conflict.

The Aftermath: A World Transformed

The results of World War I were profound and far-reaching:

• Massive Loss of Life: An estimated 16 million people, both military and civilian, died. Millions more were wounded.
• Economic Devastation: European economies were shattered, leading to widespread debt and the destruction of infrastructure.
• Political Changes: Four major empires collapsed: the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German Empires. New nations emerged in Eastern Europe, redrawing the map of the continent.
• Social Impact: The war led to significant social changes, including increased roles for women in the workforce and a generation struggling with physical and psychological trauma.
• The Treaty of Versailles: Signed in June 1919, this treaty officially ended the war. It imposed extremely harsh terms on Germany, including territorial losses, severe military restrictions, and massive reparations payments. The infamous "War Guilt Clause" forced Germany to accept sole responsibility for starting the war. Many historians argue these harsh terms created resentment that contributed to the rise of Nazism and World War II.
• The League of Nations: Proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points, the League of Nations was an international organization created to provide a forum for resolving international disputes and prevent future wars through collective security. However, it ultimately proved ineffective, partly because the United States never joined.

Worksheet: World War I - Events & Impacts

Instructions: Using your knowledge from the slides and the reading, identify the major events of World War I and describe their key impacts. Be specific in your answers.

Part 1: Major Events

1. Event: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914)

• Description:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Immediate Impact:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Broader Significance:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Event: Trench Warfare and New Technologies (e.g., machine guns, poison gas, tanks)

• Description:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Immediate Impact on Combat:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Broader Significance (e.g., human cost, psychological impact):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. Event: United States Enters the War (April 6, 1917)

• Key Reasons (Unrestricted Submarine Warfare & Zimmermann Telegram):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Immediate Impact on the War:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Broader Significance:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Event: Armistice Signed (November 11, 1918)

• Description:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Immediate Impact:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Broader Significance:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Part 2: Long-Term Results

5. Result: The Treaty of Versailles (June 1919)

• Key Provisions (e.g., War Guilt Clause, reparations, territorial losses):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Impact on Germany:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Broader Significance (e.g., seeds of future conflict):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

6. Result: Collapse of Empires & Formation of New Nations

• Empires that collapsed:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Impact on Europe/World:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

7. Result: The League of Nations

• Purpose:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Challenges/Effectiveness:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

8. Overall Impact: How did WWI transform the world politically, economically, and socially?

Discussion Guide: Legacies of War

Instructions: Use these prompts to guide a class discussion about the major results and lasting impacts of World War I. Encourage students to connect past events to future consequences and present-day understanding.

Part 1: The Treaty of Versailles - Seeds of Future Conflict?

1. The Treaty of Versailles imposed very harsh terms on Germany, including the "War Guilt Clause" and massive reparations. Do you think these terms were fair to Germany? Why or why not?
   
   
   
2. Some historians argue that the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles contributed to economic instability and resentment in Germany, which later helped lead to the rise of Adolf Hitler and World War II. Do you agree with this assessment? What evidence supports or refutes this idea?
   
   
   
3. What lessons can be learned about peace treaties and their impact on long-term global stability from the Treaty of Versailles?
   
   
   

Part 2: The League of Nations - A Noble Failure?

1. What was the main purpose of the League of Nations, and why was it considered such an innovative idea at the time?
   
   
   
2. The United States, despite President Woodrow Wilson's efforts, never joined the League of Nations. How do you think this impacted the League's effectiveness? Could it have succeeded without U.S. participation?
   
   
   
3. What are the challenges of creating and maintaining an effective international organization for peace? How do these challenges compare to those faced by modern international bodies like the United Nations?
   
   
   

Part 3: A World Transformed

1. Beyond the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, what were some other significant political, economic, and social changes that resulted from World War I? Think about the collapse of empires, new nations, and changes in society.
   
   
   
2. How did World War I fundamentally alter the global balance of power? What new powers emerged, and which ones declined?
   
   
   
3. The term "The Great War" suggests it was a war unlike any before it. In what ways was WWI a turning point in human history, shaping the 20th century and beyond?
   
   
   
4. Considering the massive human cost and the long-lasting consequences, what is the most important lesson we can take away from studying World War I today?
   
   
   

Cool Down: One Last Thought

Instructions: Before you leave, please reflect on today's lesson about World War I. In the space below, write down:

• One key takeaway or something new you learned today.
• One lingering question you still have about World War I.

My Key Takeaway:

My Lingering Question:

Word Search Challenge: Echoes of the Great War

Instructions: Find the hidden words related to World War I in the puzzle below. Words can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, and forwards or backwards.

N A T I O N A L I S M V T
U B T R E N C H E S A R E
I E R C D L S I M P E R I
E R P A R M I S T I C E A
L L O D F G H J K L M N L
A I L L M I L I T A R I S M
N N E W Q E R T Y U I O P
C C G B N M Z X C V B N S
E E S L I G U S I T A N I A
S S A R A J E V O P O I S
Z I M M E R M A N N A M O
F R A N Z F E R D I N A N D

Word List:

• NATIONALISM
• IMPERIALISM
• MILITARISM
• ALLIANCES
• TRENCHES
• SARJEVO
• FRANZFERDINAND
• LUSITANIA
• ZIMMERMANN
• ARMISTICE
• VERSAILLES
• POISONGAS
• WILSON

Crossword Challenge: The Great War

Instructions: Use the clues below to complete the crossword puzzle. All answers are related to World War I.

Across

1. The practice of building up armies and navies. (10 letters)
2. Agreement to stop fighting, signed on November 11, 1918. (9 letters)
3. President of the United States who proposed the League of Nations. (6 letters)
4. German message to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S. (15 letters)
5. Harsh treaty that officially ended World War I. (10 letters)
6. Intense pride in one's country. (11 letters)

Down

2. Type of warfare on the Western Front characterized by elaborate ditches. (12 letters)
3. Competition for colonies and resources. (11 letters)
4. Archduke whose assassination sparked the war. (14 letters)
5. British passenger ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1915. (9 letters)
6. International organization formed to prevent future wars. (16 letters)

    1                   
  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   
   |               |    
   | 2             |    
   | _ _ _         |    
   |       |       |    
   |       | 3     |    
   |       | _ _ _ _ _ _
   | 4     | |       |  
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _     
|   |   |           |    
|   |   |           |    
| 5 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
|       |       |       
|       | 6     |       
| _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
| _ _ _ |       |       
|       | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       | 7     
|       |       | _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       |   |       
|       |       |   | 8     
| _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       |   |       
|       |       |   |       
|       |       |   | _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       |   | 9     
|       |       |   | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       |   |   |       
|       |       |   |   | 10    
|       |       |   |   | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       |   |   |       
|       |       |   |   | 11    
|       |       |   |   | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
|       |       |   |   |       

Word List (Answers):

• Across: MILITARISM, ARMISTICE, WILSON, ZIMMERMANTELEGRAM, VERSAILLES, NATIONALISM
• Down: TRENCHWARFARE, IMPERIALISM, FRANZFERDINAND, LUSITANIA, LEAGUEOFNATIONS