Unit 6: World War I
1914 CE – presentThis wasn’t just a European war. It was a global turning point. Uncover how one spark pushed the world into a conflict and how its impact reached far beyond the battlefield.
The First Total War

Lesson 6.2
Causes of the First World War
Military forces grew, alliances solidified, and tensions rose across continents. When war finally came, it was no accident; it was the result of systems pushed to the breaking point.

Lesson 6.3
Total War
World War I was more than a battlefield—it was a global experience. It blurred the line between home and front, and changed what war looked and felt like.
Experiences and Outcomes

Lesson 6.4
Living in Total War
What did it mean to be part of the lost generation? Firsthand perspectives from the war reveal the fear, courage, and resistance that shaped the lives touched by total war.

Lesson 6.5
The World Remade
World War I left behind more than wreckage. From fragile peace talks to sweeping revolutions, it pushed people to imagine new ways to organize on global, national, and local scales.
Teaching This Unit
Vocabulary Guide
Strategies and routines for building vocabulary.
Reading Overview
Reading strategies to help students dig into a variety of texts.
OER Teaching Sensitive Topics in Social Studies Guide
Support for having discussions that are difficult, but meaningful.
Historical Thinking Skills Guide
Develop the skills needed to analyze history and think like a historian.