Lesson Plan:

Aim
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes, events, and effects of the
first world war, including its historical significance.

Objectives
1. Students will be able to identify and explain the major political and economic factors that led
to the war.
2. Students will be able to explain the major events that caused the war to escalate.
3. Students will be able to identify and explain the major effects of the war.
4. Students will be able to explain the historical significance of the first world war.
5. Students will be able to explain the consequences of the war for the future.

Possible Materials Needed

1. Textbook or educational handouts on the first world war
2. Pictures of key events and people related to the war
3. Timeline of the war
4. World War I Powerpoint Presentation
5. Short video on the war
6. Map of the world after the war

Anticipatory Set
1. Begin the lesson by engaging the class in a discussion on the different political and economic
factors that led to the war. Ask the class to brainstorm different events that might have caused
the war to escalate, such as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Discuss how the
different countries involved in the war had different motivations for entering the conflict.

2. Introduce the concept of total war and how it changed the way that warfare was fought during
the first world war. Ask the class to consider how new technologies were employed during the
war and how it changed the nature of warfare. Discuss how the war was fought on multiple
fronts and how this changed the strategic nature of the conflict.

3. Lastly, discuss the major effects of the war and how it changed the balance of power in
Europe and the rest of the world. Ask the class to consider the creation of new countries, the
destabilization of existing countries, and how the war had a lasting impact on the future.
Modeled Practice
1. The teacher can provide an example of a major event that led to the war, such as the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Ask the class to identify the different countries
involved and how they were motivated to enter the war. The teacher can then ask the class
to consider how this event changed the strategic nature of the war and how it impacted the
different countries involved.

2. The teacher can provide a hands-on activity to help the students understand the concept of
total war and how it changed warfare during the first world war. Ask the class to brainstorm
different new technologies that were employed during the war, such as tanks, airplanes, and
machine guns. Ask the class to consider how these new technologies changed the way that
warfare was fought and how it impacted the different countries involved in the war.

3. The teacher can provide a discussion-based activity to help the students understand the
major effects of the war. Ask the class to consider how the war changed the balance of power
in Europe and the rest of the world. Ask the class to consider the creation of new countries, the
destabilization of existing countries, and how the war had a lasting impact on the future.

Guided Practice
1. Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a different country involved in the
war. Ask each group to research the political and economic factors that led the country to enter
the war and explain how it changed the strategic nature of the conflict. Allow each group to
present their findings to the class and discuss how the different countries were motivated to
enter the war and how it impacted the different countries involved.

2. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different technology used during
the war. Ask each group to research the technology and explain how it changed the way warfare
was fought and impacted the different countries involved in the war. Allow each group to present
their findings to the class and discuss how the new technologies changed the nature of warfare.

3. Provide students with a worksheet that asks them to consider the major effects of the war on
Europe and the rest of the world. Ask them to research how the war changed the balance of
power in Europe and the rest of the world, how it created new countries, and how it destabilized
existing countries. Ask them to consider how the war had a lasting impact on the future.
Independent Practice
1. Ask students to research one particular country involved in the war and create a poster
that includes information about the political and economic factors that led to their involvement.
Students should also include a discussion of the effects of the war on that country and how it
changed the strategic nature of the conflict.

2. Ask students to write a story about a major event during the war and explain how it impacted
the different countries involved. The story should include how the event changed the strategic
nature of the conflict and how it impacted the different countries involved.

3. Ask students to create a PowerPoint presentation that explains the major effects of the war
on Europe and the rest of the world. The presentation should include information on how the
war changed the balance of power, created new countries, and destabilized existing countries.
The presentation should also include information on the historical significance of the war.

Common Areas of Struggle

When it comes to learning about the first world war, the most common struggle is understanding
the different political and economic factors that led to the war and how they impacted the
different countries involved. Students may also have difficulty understanding the concept of
total war and how it changed the nature of warfare during the war. Another area where students
struggle to comprehend is the major effects of the war and how it changed the balance of power
in Europe and the rest of the world.

Ensure that students are given plenty of opportunity to practice and discuss the different
political and economic factors that led to the war and how they impacted the different countries
involved. Provide plenty of examples and visuals to help students better understand the
concept. Encourage students to ask questions and engage in discussions about the different
components of the war and its effects.

Closure
At the end of the lesson, the teacher can ask the class to complete a writing prompt that asks
them to consider the major effects of the war on Europe and the rest of the world. Ask the
students to consider how the war changed the balance of power, created new countries, and
destabilized existing countries. The teacher can also assign a quiz to assess the students'
understanding of the concepts discussed in the lesson. It is important to provide students with
feedback on their work so that they can understand what areas they need to focus on and
improve.

Be sure to ask questions often related to the common areas of struggle.