Life in the trenches

4: Defence of the Realm Act

Required Resources

• Slides 13-16
• Student Worksheets 6-7
• Marker pens

Delivery

• Display Slides 13-16 which provide an overview of the Defence of The Realm Act (DORA) and its purpose.
• Distribute a copy of Student Worksheets 6-7 to each student. The Worksheets contain different source material, including letters, diary extracts and excerpts from soldier's journals.
• Using the sources on Student Worksheet 6 students should work through the questions on Student Worksheet 7.
• Now ask students to write a letter home from the perspective of a soldier fighting in the trenches. They should use the information gathered in exercise 2 and the examples provided on Student Worksheet 6 to inform their writing.
• Once they have completed their letters students should swap them with their neighbour.
• Using the laws put in place by the DORA students should censor each other's letters to ensure they are fit to send home. Make sure you leave Slide 16 displayed so the students can check back to see what was prohibited by the DORA. Distribute marker pens to each student which they can use to blackout sensitive material in their neighbour's letter.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Lower ability students could complete the worksheet in pairs.

Higher Ability:

Higher ability students could be asked to write a letter in reply which from the perspective of a soldier's loved one. Their letter should reflect the fact that genuine information about conditions on the front line was limited.