World War I
World War I was a global conflict with lasting consequences. Use these lessons and resources to help your students explore the political, economic, and social impacts of the Great War across continents. Students analyze causes, experiences, and outcomes of total war while strengthening their skills in causation, comparison, and historical reasoning.
How to Teach World War I
PD: Primary-Source Power
Dig into primary sources with students to unpack the causes that erupted into World War I.
Teaching WWI with Simulations
Teachers share wins that grab student attention and get them up on their feet. You won’t want to miss what one teacher calls a “raucous good time.”
Blog: Global Conflict & CCOT
Consider what happens when we switch scales to examine the whole of the twentieth century through the lens of global conflict. Zooming out invites students to think about continuity and change over time (CCOT).
Reading Strategies
Reading doesn't have to be a battle. Help students out of the trenches with strategies to get the most meaning out of each text.
Teach Tomorrow: Lessons on World War I
Lesson 6.2
Causes of the First World War
Military forces grew, alliances solidified, and tensions rose across continents. This lesson helps students see how the First World War was the result of a long history.
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Lesson 8.3
The First Total War
The materials in this lesson help students see the global impacts of the First World War, from Western Europe to Southeast Asia.
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Lesson 8.4
A World Remade
World War I transformed the world. This lesson explores the war’s impacts, including the Russian Revolution, the Armenian Genocide, and cultural transformations.
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World War I Activities and Resources
What Caused the First World War?
Article
What Caused the First World War?
The First World War almost feels like a murder mystery, with many suspected causes and complex motives. Millions died in this confusing conflict that gripped the world.
First World War Casualties and Alliance Thematic Map
Visual Aid
First World War Casualties and Alliance Thematic Map
A full-color thematic map of First World War Casualties and Alliance in 1914 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.
Britain and World War I
Video
Britain and World War I
The First World War transformed British society. Nick Dennis explores why Britain entered the conflict and how people in Britain experienced the war.
Tug-of-War
Activity
Tug-of-War
In this quick opening activity, students use image analysis to think about the causes of the First World War.
Source Collection: World War I
Article
Source Collection: World War I
These sources reveal how people felt, struggled, and coped during World War I. Each piece of the story brings the human impact of total war to life.
A Different War—Or More of the Same
Activity
A Different War—Or More of the Same
In this activity, students use evidence from videos to evaluate how much World War I transformed war.
Writing Assessments for Teaching World War I
Pre-Writing: Causes of the First World War
Assessment
Pre-Writing: Causes of the First World War
Create an outline to order and connect your ideas about what caused World War I.
DBQ Sources: Causes of the First World War
Assessment
DBQ Sources: Causes of the First World War
Analyze these sources and gather evidence to support your argument about the causes of war.
Writing: Causes of the First World War
Assessment
Writing: Causes of the First World War
Use your outline and sourcing skills to demonstrate your understanding of causation and World War I.