Name: ________________________________ Period: _____

Letters from the Trenches

Instructions:
After reading letters from WWI soldiers, watching the video clips of trench warfare and weapon
technology and looking at the pictures from WWI, you will take on the role of a soldier who is
living and fighting in the trenches during the war. You are going to write a letter to a relative,
sweetheart, or friend describing what you are experiencing.
Your letter must fit in the box below. Think about the following questions to help guide you as
you write your letter.
How are you feeling right now as you sit in a trench? Are you comfortable? Are you
hot/cold?
Look at the pictures displayed on the screen. What do you see? What are the conditions of
the trench? What are the people in the picture doing? How do you think they are feeling?
Refer to the letters from the soldiers. What did the letters say? What was the author(s) of
the letters talking about? What kind of emotions were present in their letters?
Be creative. Try to assume a historical persona, and write the letter as if you were actually
there.

Victory Mail

France, Near the Argonne Forrest

1st February, 1918
Dear __________________________