The end of the First World War

1. Starter - trench warfare

Required Resources

• Slides 1-11
• Student Worksheet 1

Delivery

• Show Slides 1-3. Ask students to identify the difference between the type of combat typified by the Crimean war and the First World War (1914-1918).
• Explain that the way in which the First World War was fought (i.e. trench warfare) was a result of the introduction of new technologies.
• Display Slides 4-7 which contain a selection of images from the trenches which highlight technologies (including barbed wire, machine guns, gas and railway mounted heavy guns).
• In pairs, ask students to fill in the grid on Student Worksheet 1, identifying what the new technology was and stating how they thought this would have impacted on the way the war was fought.
• Display Slides 8-11 which contain captions identifying the new technologies. Discuss as a class.

Differentiation

Lower Ability:

Lower ability students may struggle making the connection between the new technologies and the type of warfare which typified the First World War. Mixed ability pairs should be used or class discussion could replace the pair work.

Higher Ability:

Ask higher ability students to conduct research on the internet and write a report outlining the impact of one of the new technologies on events of the First World War.