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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.
World War I

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How to Teach World War I

World History Lesson Guide: Causes of the First World War External link Locked

Militaries grew, alliances were cemented, and tensions rose across continents. Build student understanding of the causes of World War I by analyzing systems pushed to the breaking point.
Primary-Source Power

PD Video: Primary Source Power External link

Unlock primary sources with students as they unravel the causes of the First World War. Find the video in our Teaching Moves collection
discussions

Teaching WWI with Simulations External link

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

Blog: Global Conflict & CCOT External link

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).
Course Guide icon

Reading Strategies External link

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
World History 1750
World War I
1914 – 1919 CE
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
World History Origins
Global Conflict
1914 to 1991 CE
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
World History Origins
Global Conflict
1914 to 1991 CE
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?
World History Origins
Article

What Caused the First World War? External link

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
OER Project
Map

First World War Casualties and Alliance Thematic Map External link

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
World History 1750
Video

Britain and World War I External link

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
OER Project
Activity

Tug-of-War External link

In this quick opening activity, students use image analysis to think about the causes of the First World War.
Source Collection: World War I
An Italian World War I propaganda poster showing a soldier in uniform and helmet, pointing directly at the viewer with his rifle in one hand. Behind him is an explosion with orange smoke.
World History Origins
Article

Source Collection: World War I External link

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
World History 1750
Activity

A Different War—Or More of the Same External link

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
World History 1750
Assessment

Pre-Writing: Causes of the First World War External link

Create an outline to order and connect your ideas about what caused World War I.
DBQ Sources: Causes of the First World War
World History 1750
Assessment

DBQ Sources: Causes of the First World War External link

Analyze these sources and gather evidence to support your argument about the causes of war.
Writing: Causes of the First World War
World History 1750
Assessment

Writing: Causes of the First World War External link

Use your outline and sourcing skills to demonstrate your understanding of causation and World War I.

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