The Outbreak of

World War I
5th & 6th Grade
Close Reading Activity
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The Outbreak of World War I

In the late 19th century and early 20th century,

tensions around Europe were high. Because of this
the major European powers tried to maintain a
balance of power which resulted in a network of
alliances. Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy
formed the Triple Alliance, and France, Russia and
Britain became known as the Triple Entente. Europe
lived on a knife edge to war, just waiting for the
spark.

That spark arrived on the 28th June 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to
the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated. Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian
nationalist, shot and killed Ferdinand and his wife while they were visiting Sarajevo.
The political effect of the murder became hugely significant. It led to a month of
unrest around Europe called the July Crisis. Austria-Hungary correctly believed that
Serbian officials were involved in the assassination and delivered to Serbia a series
of demands called the July Ultimatum. Serbia did not agree to the terms and on
the 28th July 1914, a month after the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war
on Serbia.

With Austria-Hungary and Serbia now at war, the alliances and treaties secured by
the major powers around Europe came into play. Russia came out in support of
Serbia, and Germany, who were allied to Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia.
The French, who were allied to Russia, then ordered the mobilization of their
troops. Two days later, on the 3rd August, Germany declared war on France and
demanded the right to pass through Belgium to attack France. Belgium refused but
the Germans invaded the next day. The Belgian government called for assistance
from Britain, who were allied to Belgium, and Britain declared war on Germany
that very same day. In short, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were at war.

World War I had begun. It would become a global war that would last over four
years and would be one of the largest and deadliest conflicts in history with an
estimated 16 million direct deaths.

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The Outbreak of World War I
Comprehension
1 – Why did the major European powers try to maintain a balance of power? (1)

2 – Who formed the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente? (1)

3 – What created the spark for war in Europe? (1)

4 – Who was the assassin and who was he working alongside? (2)

5 – What were the July Crisis, and the July Ultimatum? (2)

6 – When did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia? (1)

7 – What came into play now Austria-Hungary and Serbia were at war? (1)

8 – Why did Germany declare war on Russia? (1)

9 – What did the French do just before Germany declared war on them? (1)

10 – When and why did Britain enter the war? (2)

11 – Describe what the war would become? (2)

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The Outbreak of World War I
Grammar
12 - Underline the verbs in the following sentence: (1)

Europe lived on a knife edge to war, just waiting for the spark.

13 – Underline all of the proper nouns in the following sentence: (1)

Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, shot and killed Ferdinand and his wife while
they were visiting Sarajevo.

Extension
14 – Write a timeline of the events that happened between the 28th June 1914 and the 4th
August 1914. (3)

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The Outbreak of World War I
Questions
Comprehension Questions
1 – Why did the major European powers try to maintain a balance of power? (1)
2 – Who formed the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente? (1)
3 – What created the spark for war in Europe? (1)
4 – Who was the assassin and who was he working alongside? (2)
5 – What were the July Crisis, and the July Ultimatum? (2)
6 – When did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia? (1)
7 – What came into play now Austria-Hungary and Serbia were at war? (1)
8 – Why did Germany declare war on Russia? (1)
9 – What did the French do just before Germany declared war on them? (1)
10 – When and why did Britain enter the war? (2)
11 – Describe what the war would become? (2)
Grammar Questions
12 - Underline the verbs in the following sentence: (1)
Europe lived on a knife edge to war, just waiting for the spark.
13 – Underline all of the proper nouns in the following sentence: (1)
Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, shot and killed Ferdinand and his wife while they were visiting Sarajevo.
Extension
14 – Write a timeline of the events that happened between the 28th June 1914 and the 4th August 1914. (3)

Answers
Comprehension Questions
1 – Tensions around Europe were high
2 – Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy / Triple Entente - France, Russia and Britain
3 – The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
4 – Gavrilo Princip / Serbian officials
5 – July Crisis – the month of unrest around Europe after the assassination / July Ultimatum - a series of demands
from Austria-Hungary to Serbia
6 – 28th July 1914
7 – The alliances and treaties
8 – Because Russia came out in support of Serbia
9 – They ordered the mobilization of their troops
10 – 4th August 1914 / They were allied to Belgium who Germany had invaded
11 – A global war that would last over four years / One of the largest and most deadliest conflicts in history / An
estimated 16 million direct deaths (any 2 for 2 marks)
Grammar Questions
12 - Europe lived on a knife edge to war, just waiting for the spark.
13 – Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, shot and killed Ferdinand and his wife while they were visiting Sarajevo.
Extension
14 – 0-3 marks depending on detail

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The Outbreak of World War I Crossword

Across
1. What was the surname of the Serbian assassin?
2. What country declared war on France on the 3rd August 1914?
3. What country did Austria-Hungary declare war on?
4. In what city was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
5. What country came out in support of Russia by mobilizing their troops?
6. In what month of 1918 did Germany declare war on France?
Down
7. Name another country in the Triple Entente.
8. Who declared war on Germany in support of Belgium?
9. How many million people are estimated at dying during the war?
10. What is the surname of the archduke that was assassinated in June 1918?
11. What country came out in support of Serbia early in the war?

7.
1.

8.
9.
2. 3.
10.

4.
11.
5.

6.

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The Outbreak of World War I Crossword Answers

Across
1. What was the surname of the Serbian assassin?
2. What country declared war on France on the 3rd August 1914?
3. What country did Austria-Hungary declare war on?
4. In what city was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
5. What country came out in support of Russia by mobilizing their troops?
6. In what month of 1918 did Germany declare war on France?
Down
7. Name another country in the Triple Entente.
8. Who declared war on Germany in support of Belgium?
9. How many million people are estimated at dying during the war?
10. What is the surname of the archduke that was assassinated in June 1918?
11. What country came out in support of Serbia early in the war?

7.
1. P R I N C I P
T
8. A
B L 9.
2. G E R M A N Y 3. S E R B I A
I 10. I
T F X
4. S A R A J E V O T
I R 11. E
N D 5. F R A N C E
I U N
N S
6. A U G U S T
N I
D A
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Outbreak of World War I Wordsearch

Find all the words below that relate to the First World War.

Archduke Belgium
Ferdinand Serbia Sarajevo
Gavrilo Russia Assassination
Princip Germany Declaration
Austria France Mobilization
Hungary Britain Conflict

Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy ©

Outbreak of World War I Wordsearch Answers

Find all the words below that relate to the First World War.

Archduke Belgium
Ferdinand Serbia Sarajevo
Gavrilo Russia Assassination
Princip Germany Declaration
Austria France Mobilization
Hungary Britain Conflict

Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy ©

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