world war 1 project ideas for middle school

Middle School Social Studies World War I Projects

Remembrance Day Assembly Ideas

Many people remember history as a dry collection of textbook facts but project-based learning allows students to encounter history in 3-D. Middle-school World War I projects familiarize students with key people, places, events and machinery of the Great War while grabbing their attention through the use of artistic expression and technology. Middle school students can come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of how past events have shaped the world they know today.

Secret Mission

Prepare a memo informing students that they have been specially chosen for a secret intelligence gathering mission and hand out a list of questions that the secret service needs to know to properly conduct war operations. Write sample questions that will lead students to explore one of the battles of the war. Students must then check internet websites for the answers and record the "sensitive information" in a trench journal. They must then conceal the journal in a disguise, such as folded in a newspaper, glued inside a folded map, placed in a hollow book or a soldier's boot or even baked into a loaf of bread. They must then hand in the journal at "headquarters"--the classroom.

Multimedia History

Break students into small groups to create multimedia slide-show time lines of key causes, people, events, battles and places in World War I. Provide a list of questions or topics to cover for each group; the slide show should include pictures, maps, graphs and charts of casualties, war costs for each country and the wartime industry. The last slide(s) should include a bibliography of the resources used to research the war.

Illustrated History

Have the students create books that follow the story of one soldier through the war. Each student plans out the soldier's identity details--country, name, rank, regiment, personality, family background--and roughs in some details of important moments in the war for which this soldier was present. The story should explore the human side of war as realistically as possible and highlight how the battles and events at home and on the field affected the soldier's physical health, thoughts and feelings. The students can accompany their "books" with illustrations of their choosing, drawing the character or the scenes or events he encounters, or include handwritten diary entries of the character.

Historical Re-enactment

Put students in small groups and either assign or have each group choose a key event in World War I. Each group writes a script and re-enacts the event through a skit or puppet show. If possible, provide or encourage students to bring appropriate period costumes to add an air of authenticity to the re-enactment.

Weapons of War

Have students choose a particular plane, tank or weapon of World War I to research. They will create a poster or manual describing the specs on the particular model. They should provide a picture as well as a description and include any interesting historical uses or what was necessary to operate the machine or weapon.

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Tamara Christine has written more than 900 articles for a variety of clients since 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in applied linguistics and an elementary teaching license. Additionally, she completed a course in digital journalism in 2014. She has more than 10 years experience teaching and gardening.

Sharing teaching and learning resources from the National Archives

Education Updates

Primary Sources & Teaching Activities for World War I

You can find primary sources and online teaching activities for World War I on our DocsTeach World War I page .

Find primary sources for topics such as:

• New weapons like airplanes , trench warfare , machine guns , submarines , and tanks
• Women in WWI
• WWI Posters
• The Homefront
• Espionage, sedition, and spying
• Armistice, the Treaty of Versailles, and the end of the war
• The Harlem Hellfighters
• The 1918 Flu Pandemic

See WWI draft cards for personalities like Babe Ruth, Al Capone, Charles Hamilton Houston, and Ty Cobb. Students can use Babe Ruth’s Draft Card to identify differences between WWI America and today in the activity WWI America: Babe Ruth’s Draft Card .

Check out World War I posters to discuss propaganda techniques, food conservation, liberty loans, victory gardens, and recruiting with your students. You can also access poster-based teaching activities .

Students can practice “Decoding an Intercepted Message” in the activity The Zimmermann Telegram to learn about this important document and turning point in the war. They analyze the telegram and make an assessment about whether the United States should have entered WWI based on the telegram’s information and implications.

Other teaching activities on the DocsTeach World War I page include:

• Americans on the Homefront Helped Win World War I
• New Technology in World War I
• Comparing WWI Food Conservation Posters
• Artists Document World War I
• WWI Propaganda and Art
• Baseball on the World War I Homefront
• Baseball: A Morale Booster During Wartime?

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WW1 KS2 resources – Best lessons and project ideas

Teach some great lessons about the importance of WW1 with these free resources, activities and lesson plans…

KS2 history lesson plan

This WW1 KS2 history lesson plan by Rachel Bruce and Bev Forrest will help pupils to gain a better understanding of the World Wars. They will think about the impact on their own area and focus on the lives of individuals or groups affected by the wars.

Women at work lesson plan

The Great War changed the lives of women in this country – by examining local stories, your pupils can begin to understand the bigger picture, in this WWI and social change lesson plan for KS2 history.

Make WWI relevant to children

Remembering those who died in WWI a hundred years ago involves exploring difficult themes such as service, conflict and, ultimately, death.

With primary-age children, this can feel like dark stuff. However, don’t be put off. Commemoration has a place in primary schools and the challenge is to make it accessible.

Here, Vicky Hatchett has some ideas on how you can do just that.

The Great War lesson plan

If you are looking for a new approach to teaching KS2 pupils about the First World War why not try this lesson plan using an article from Science+Nature and one from The Week Junior as a starting point?

Launch an in-depth historical enquiry and explore the events of the Great War, discover how it started, and investigate the amazing inventions and discoveries that happened because of it.

The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha book topic

A tortoise waking up might not sound the most thrilling topic starter, but the slumbering reptile in The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha has an account of WWI that begs to be told, and retold.

Set up a news room, write letters home from the trenches and look at maps of the war to give children a global perspective with this excellent book topic from Clare Pearson.

The war at home and abroad

This primary resource from National Geographic Kids explores the events of the First World War, both at home and abroad. Discover how the war started and how long it lasted. What made this war different from the conflicts that came before it? What is a trench? When did the war end?

Pupils will learn about the role of women during the war, and what life was like in Britain while soldiers were abroad.

The resource can be used in study group tasks for an overview of World War I. It can be used as a printed handout for each pupil to read themselves, or for display on the interactive whiteboard, as part of a whole-class reading exercise.

Plus, it includes great things like a First World War comic and resources on war horses .

War Horse on stage

Talking of war horses, the National Theatre stage production website is packed full of resources for KS2 .

There are singing and music lessons; memory box activities; poetry-, diary- and letter-writing exercises; drama tasks and loads more.

Women at work – Florence Cordell

Florence Cordell was one of the first women to work as a bus conductor during WW1 as women filled the roles of men on the home front.

Use this five-lesson ‘Women at Work’ series from the Royal British Legion to support KS2 children to write a thank you letter to Florence as a personal act of Remembrance.

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Lesson Plan: Choice Board: World War I

Description.

This document is a choice board covering 16 different events and topics occurring during World War I. For each topic, students are provided a link to a C-SPAN video clip asked to answer questions addressed in the video clip. Teachers can customize this document as needed -- the current directions ask students to complete 5 slides, but that can be adjusted. This is a multi-day activity that can be done in person or via distance learning.

Open the Choice Board - World War I Google Slides Presentation in Google and choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. Make any needed adjustments in the instructions and then make it available to students (via Google Classroom or another method).

Update the directions on the first slide of the choice board with your own instructions to students if you choose. The board currently requires them to complete 5 total topics, but you can adjust that before you send to students. Additional instructions for teachers can be found on the Teacher Notes Google Doc linked below.

Each student will need their own digital copy of the Google Slides (via Google Classroom or some other method); they will also need a Google account to be able to complete the work.

CHOICE BOARD: World War I (Google Slides)

TEACHER NOTES: World War I (Google Doc)

INTRODUCTION:

Share the Google Slides document with the students and instruct them to make a copy of the choice board that they can edit.

CHOICE BOARD DIRECTIONS:

Students will complete a total of five slides on the choice board. Students should keep track of which slides they have completed by clicking and dragging the poppies over each completed box on the choice board.

For each slide, students will need view the video clip and answer the questions relating to each video clip on the slide.

CHOICE BOARD VIDEOS AND READINGS:

Below are the video clips included in each of the slides.

Slide 2: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Video Clip: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (5:16)

Slide 3: The United States’ Role

• Video Clip: The United States and the Decision to enter World War I (7:58)

Slide 3: American War Cemeteries

• Video Clip: The Cultural Landscape of American World War I Cemeteries (5:08)

Slide 5: War Poster

• Video Clip: World War I Poster (5:02)

Slide 6: Fort McHenry Hospital

• Video Clip: Fort McHenry During World War I (3:53)

Slide 7: African American Soldiers

• Video Clip: African American Soldiers During World War I (10:36)

Slide 8: Women in the War

• Video Clip: Women in the War (3:22)

Slide 9: American Soldier Equipment

• Video Clip: World War I - American Soldier (8:19)

Slide 10: German U-Boats

• Video Clip: German U-Boat WWI (5:12)

Slide 11: Weaponry

Video Clip: WWI Weaponry Part One (2:31)

• Video Clip: WWI Weaponry Part Two (2:43)

Slide 12: Trench Warfare

• Video Clip: World War I and Trench Warfare (5:49)

Slide 13: Aviation

• Video Clip: Military Aviation during World War I (3:40)

Slide 14: The Battle of Saint Mihiel

• Video Clip: World War I Battle of Saint-Mihiel (6:51)

Slide 15: The Argonne Forest

• Video Clip: World War I: The Argonne Forest (7:13)

Slide 16: The End of the War

• Video Clip: Fall of Empires
• Video Clip: Veterans Day History (5:25)

CONCLUSION:

After completing the required tasks, students should turn in their completed Google Slides by submitting the URL with the completed Google Slides to you electronically.

Review student responses and address any misconceptions.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:

Classroom Museum Exhibit- Students can select one of the topics they learned about and create an artifact to include in the exhibit along with a written explanation describing its significance.

Newspaper Article- As a journalist, write a newspaper article describing the circumstances of one of the topics that was covered during this time.

ADDITIONAL PROMPTS:

Respond to one of the following prompts by providing a written response:

How should people remember World War I today?

How do the events and legacy of World War I impact the world today?

• Compare the events and tactics of World War to other wars that you have studied. How are they similar? How are they different?

Additional Resources

• Lesson Plan: World War I
• Lesson Plan: WWI: United States Military in France in 1918
• Trench Warfare

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Using Literature to Teach about World War One in Middle School

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Many of us use a curriculum to teach history, but using literature to teach history can be a great teaching tool. I am continuing this history literature series with some of the best books to teach about World War I. Using literature to teach history illuminates the time period, helps integrate the history curriculum, and enriches social studies. With my love for literature and history, it only makes sense to combine the two so I have gathered some of my favorite books that teach about World War I in middle school.

Great Battles for Boys: World War I by Joe Giorello is written for boys, but girls can learn just as much as young readers experience an unforgettable journey into World War I. They learn about the major battles, leaders, tactics, and strategies that helped the Allies topple the Axis powers. They’ll also learn about new inventions, such as airplanes and tanks, which proved to be crucial to World War I.

World War I for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by R. Kent Rasmussen provides an intriguing and comprehensive look at this defining conflict that involved all of the world’s superpowers. Why and how did the war come about? What was life like for soldiers in the trenches? What roles did zeppelins, barbed war, and the passenger ship Lusitania play in the war? Young history buffs will learn the answer to these questions and many others. This book goes in depth into the war with hands-on activities for kids to make a periscope, make a parachute, cook Maconochie stew, and much more.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is a family favorite. In 1914, Joey, a farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of World War I on the Western Front. When Joey is dragged away, his heart aches for Albert, the farmer’s son he is forced to leave behind. In the army the beautiful red-bay horse is trained to charge the enemy, drag heavy artillery, and carry wounded soldiers not much older than Albert off the battlefields. Amongst the clamoring of guns and while plodding through the cold mud, Joey wonders if the war will ever end. Be sure to read the book (before watching the movie) to see if he ever finds Albert again.

Soldier Dog by Sam Angus is about a 14-year-old boy named Stanley who takes care of the family’s greyhound and puppies after his brother has gone to fight in the war until the morning Stanley wakes to find the puppies gone. Determined to find his brother, he runs away to join an increasingly desperate army. Assigned to the experimental War Dog School, Stanley is given a problematic Great Dane named Bones to train. Against all odds, the pair excels, and Stanley is sent to France. But the war in France is larger and more brutal than Stanley ever imagined. Readers will see how one young boy can survive war and find his brother with only a dog to help.

These are only a few of my favorite books that teach about World War I. There are so many more out there! Feel free to share in the comments what you consider the best book to teach about World War I in middle school.

Welcome to My Happy Homeschool! http://www.myhappyhomeschool.blogspot.com/ My name is Susan Reed and my heart’s desire is to encourage the homeschool mom to live out God’s calling and stay the course.

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The First World War in Global Context

German Troops Firing from a Trench, 1915  

Introduction

• Teacher created lesson plans on the topic 
• A bibliography of historical works on  World War I  
• Links to quality websites related to the history of the Great War

Lesson Plans

Analyzing primary sources, powerpoint presentations.

• Causes of World War I   
• World War I: Total War
• The United States Enters World War I
• The US Homefront During World War I
• National Security vs. Liberty: The US Homefront
• The US and World War I: Social Change

world war 1 middle school

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World War 1 Worksheets for Middle School and Special Education - ESL

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World War I Resource Bundle for Middle and High School History

Treaty of Versailles End of WWI Activity ( Middle and High School )

U.S. History: World War I PowerPoint ( Middle School )

World War I Jeopardy - Engaging History Review Game for Middle /High School

World War I Comprehension W/Crossword for Middle and High School History

NOVEL UNIT - Middle School - High School - World War I - Legacy - Whiti Hereaka

WWI Presentation for Middle School

World History WWI - Middle / High School - Full Unit Study Lesson

World War 1 Test- Middle School

• Word Document File

World War 1 Review Sheet- Middle School

World War I ppt for middle school -remedial high school

World War I Persuasive Speech - Middle School SS Project - World War I - CH 8

M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI (Student Reference/Handout)

Complete World War I Set

Causes of WWI : The Assassination

Causes of WWI : Imperialism

Causes of WWI (bundle)

Causes of WWI : Nationalism

Propaganda during World War I

Causes of WWI : Alliances

World War 1 Interactive Notebook

Home Front of World War I

WWI Murder Mystery - Archduke Ferdinand

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World War I

Activities, lesson plans, and more.

• Y—Young (PreK-3rd)
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The Poppy Story    (Y,M) An animated short film about the journey of the poppy and what it means. Written specifically for very young children this is an excellent introduction to the poppy and remembrance.

WWI at Mr. Donn's Site    (Y,M,O,T) Large collection of lesson plans, presentations, activities, games, and other resources for teachers and students about WWI, covering The Lusitania and Submarine Warfare, The Zimmerman Telegram, WW1 Propaganda Posters, and more.

PBS WWI Resources (T) A collection of lesson plans, articles, video clips, images, and more from PBS covering the Great War. Designed for middle and high school students.

Archdukes, Cynicism, and World War I: Crash Course World History #36 - Crash Course

Teacher Lesson Plans from the Harry Truman Library    (T) A collection of various US and World History lessons, including numerous WWI lessons, from the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Mostly Secondary level lesson plans.

The Great War: Evaluating the Treaty of Versailles    (O,T) WWI lesson plans from EDSITEment that explore the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany. For 9th-12th grades.

The WWI Document Archive (BYU)    (M,O,T) An archive of primary documents from World War One that you can browse by date, type of document, or topic. From Brigham Young University.

Teaching With Documents: The Zimmermann Telegram    (O,T) Learn about the telegram that changes the course of history by studying the primary documents and these accompanying activities from the National Archives.

Teaching With Documents: Photographs of the 369th Infantry and African Americans during World War I    (M,O,T) Read about the "Harlem Hellfighters," an all-black regiment under the command of mostly white officers. From the National Archives

Teaching With Documents: Sow the Seeds of Victory! Posters from the Food Administration During World War I    (M,O,T) On August 10, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson issued Executive Order 2679-A creating the U. S. Food Administration. See how this organization has impacted American lives. From the National Archives, includes posters and lessons.

Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points    (M,O,T) A full-text, primary source of President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points from Yale.

Recordings from WWI and the 1920 Election    (M,O,T) This collection consists of fifty-nine Library of Congress sound recordings of speeches from 1918-1920. Speakers include: Warren G. Harding, James Cox, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Samuel Gompers, Henry Cabot Lodge, and John J. Pershing.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial (Y,M,O,T) The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO has a large collection of artifacts, photos, posters, ads, and more that can be browsed online, as well as an interactive timeline, digital exhibitions, articles, lessons, activities, and other educator resources.

International Encyclopedia of the First World War (M,O) 1914-1918-online is a collaborative, open-access digital encyclopedia that contains hundreds of multimedia articles on various topics about WWI.

U.S. World War One Centennial Commission (Y,M,O,T) The WWI Centennial Commission “was established by the World War One Centennial Commission Act, part of Public Law 112-272 passed by the 112th Congress and signed by President Obama on January 16, 2013, and further refined by Public Law 113-291, Subtitle J, Section 3091. The Commission is responsible for planning, developing, and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War One.” The site contains a large collection of primary sources and educator resources.

Over the Top: WWI Game (Y,M,O) “Over the Top is an interactive adventure that allows you to experience the life in the trenches during the First World War.”

The Pritzker Military Museum (M,O) The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is a non-partisan, non-governmental museum dedicated to military history, military affairs, and national security public education. It hosts a large online collection of historical photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, books, videos, magazines, and veteran biographies, most of which is available online.

Eyewitness to History WWI (M,O) First-hand accounts of WWI from those who lived through it. From Eyewitness to History.

Naval History and Heritage Command (M,O) The Naval History and Heritage Command is an association of Naval museums across the United States that collects documents, artifacts, photos, oral histories, and art from the U.S. Navy. In addition to a large online collection of primary sources, the site hosts a vast amount of historical information, where you can research specific topics, statistics, and notable service member biographies from WWI.

The Smithsonian WWI Collection (Y,M,O) Browse the Smithsonian Institute's WWI collection of artifacts, photos, films, advertisements, uniforms, and more online.

Smithsonian WWI Lessons (Y,M,O,T) A collection of WWI lesson plans from the Smithsonian Institute that utilize various artifacts and primary sources to teach students about the war.

MacArthur Memorial WWI Video Lessons (M,O,T) “The MacArthur Memorial is a museum and research center dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the life of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.” In addition to a large collection of primary sources and artifacts, the MacArthur Memorial has a series of lessons covering maps, battles, the end of the war, trench warfare, and more.

BBC WWI Video and Interactive Resources (Y,M,O,T) The BBC has a large collection of video resources and an interactive exhibition to explore various topics about WWI, such as Armistice Day, the roles of various countries and regions in the war, specific battles, women in war, and more.

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Trench Models

After learning about World War I and researching what the trenches were like, some children decided to create some models for their homework. Why not try to make your own?

From Wendy Graham…

“Both of the boys used air dry clay which took a long time to dry. They looked into what trenches were like and how soldiers lived in them.

They both decided to make the trenches. Once dry, the children painted. My son Kieran used matchsticks and picture wire to make the barbed wire and fake snow to make it look cold.

Jaedan used some of his toy soldiers to help measure the height / depth of the trench. He then used card for the floor boards. They both found strong cardboard the best thing to use as a base.”

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10 ways to remember the First World War with your child

The First World War reached across the world. Millions of people lost their life and society changed forever. Most of the people who lived through the War have passed away, so it is down to us now to keep their story alive.

Remembrance: 10 ways to get your child interested in World War I

To help us connect with the past, personal tributes are just as important as official events. Helen Grant, a Minister of State in the government and a mum, is working to make sure the First World War is remembered properly.

“Stories that pass down from mothers and fathers to sons and daughters are a great gift but can easily be lost over time. These ten simple ideas can bring to life what happened to ordinary people during the First World War. Perhaps you will even uncover the private stories of courage shown by your own family. With that generation all but gone, it is down to us now. We are the only ones who can keep their memory alive.”

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Plant poppy seeds

“In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses row on row”. These haunting words by war poet John McCrae captured public imagination and the poppy flower became the symbol of the First World War. You can buy a Royal British Legion seed packet at B&Q. The charity gets a £1 donation and Britain will bloom with iconic red flowers. 

Visit a museum

Be transported back to the First World War for free at museums across the country. As well as the Imperial War Museums in Manchester, London and Duxford, you can search for your local Army museum .

Create your own war memorial

There are over 65,000 war memorials in the UK and more overseas. Visit your local memorial or take a look at English Heritage’s war memorials photos for some inspiration. Ask your child to design their version of a memorial – they could paint, draw or construct it.

Find your local hero

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery; over 600 people were awarded it for their actions during the First World War and some of them probably lived in your local area. Find your local hero  (click on Spreadsheet with a list of all First World War VC recipients, by area at the bottom of the page) then search online or go to your local library to find out more about them.

Keep a scrap book

Be inspired by Archie’s War by Marcia Williams (£7.99, Walker Books) , a beautiful treasure trove of facts about the Great War presented in a scrapbook style. Just like Archie back in 1914, you can keep a notebook handy to jot down interesting facts, draw pictures and stick in mementos like old family photos, postcards, newspaper clippings or museum entry tickets.

Experience trench warfare

Much of the First World War was fought in deep ditches known as trenches. As each side gained or lost ground, a day’s fighting could result in just a few metres of extra land. Discover what this was like as you lead your men in battle, playing the BBC’s trench warfare game .

Find out what your family did in the First World War

Time to dig out the family tree or ask your family for the names of your great (great) grandfathers. You can search for them on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website ; click on their record to find out where they are buried and what happened to them.

Make a poster

Before television and the internet, the government used posters to talk to the public. Posters asked people to join the army, cut food waste, give up holidays and save metal for munitions. Look at some First World War posters , then have a go at making your own. Many libraries are running WWI-themed craft sessions; find one near you at www.1914.org

Light a candle

On the evening of August 4th 1914, the lamps went out across Europe. No one knew when they would be lit again. That's why we light a candle, and then extinguish it, on the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey.

Bake a trench cake

During the First World War people in Britain would bake and send a fruit cake to loved ones on the front line. Some traditional cake ingredients were hard to come by, you’ll see there are no eggs in this recipe, but the postal service to the front was incredibly efficient when you think about the logistics involved.

Trench cake

Ingredients 1/2 lb flour 4 oz margarine 1 teaspoon vinegar 1/4 pint of milk 3 oz brown sugar 3oz cleaned currants 2 teaspoons cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking soda nutmeg ginger grated lemon rind

Grease a cake tin. Rub margarine into the flour in a basin. Add the dry ingredients. Mix well. Add the soda dissolved in vinegar and milk. Beat well. Turn into the tin. Bake in a moderate oven for about two hours.

Trench Cake image: Anna Weller (BakingforBritain blog)

WWI information for children

For more primary-school information about the Great War go to our Homework Gnome, World War I and Remembrance Day .

Illustrator Martin Impey and children's author Hilary Robinson have written four picture books about WWI for young children; the stories are a brilliant, age-appropriate way to present the First World War to kids through storybooks .

Poppies image courtesy of The Royal British Legion

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