Lesson Plan



Abe Fisher Unit Topic: World War 1 Course: MWH


Topic, class/grade, level: Introduction to WW1. Sophomore, Honors


Objectives:

1. Students will discuss the significant themes of World War 11

2. Students will write a brief essay considering how the world, especially Europe, may have differed before and after the war.


Understandings:

  1. World War I sprang from numerous causes, especially variations of nationalism.

  2. The world after WW1 was a radically different place than before.


Instructional Approach: (list and briefly describe activities & allotted time)

  1. Introduction - preview the unit at a very summary level (10 minutes)

    1. WW1 marks end of the old world, beginning of new.

    2. multiple causes

      1. nationalism in varying forms

      2. international rivalries

    3. starts with assassination, sets domino effect going

    4. Germany afraid of 2 front war, so plans to beat France fast

    5. It doesn’t work. Stalemate ensues in West

    6. War is far more horrific than imagined. Trenches, machine guns, barbed wire.

    7. Toll on morale

      1. russia rebels

      2. many army units mutiny

    8. Germany is trapped, realizes they’ll eventually lose

      1. gamble they can win before US can bring weight to bear

      2. start up unrestricted submarine warfare

    9. USA enters

    10. both sides learn better how to win on offense--war becomes more mobile

  1. Pairs activity - with seat partners, write down 5 things they know, or think they know, about the war (5-10 minutes).

  2. Share & discuss results (20 minutes)

  3. Wrap-up - assign homework (reading, evaluation/assessment below). If time, begin the assignment below.


Modifications (for differentiation): CP will receive an outline prior to the preview, recording what the preview contains. CP will also do a different assessment.


Evaluation/assessment: See attached assignment.

1 see Mass Frameworks, WHII.17, 18