Materials

• Slideshow of images of World War I trench warfare, using slide projector or LCD projector for electronic presentation)
• Recording of dramatic music and/or sounds of war
• Video/movie showing trench warfare (see school or other local library)
• Map showing location of the western front
• Poetry, diaries, or passages from novels that detail life in the trenches
• Teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity
• Preferred teacher resources

Instructional Activities

1. Administer a quiz on important figures of World War I.
   
   
2. Explain that the class will be role-playing World War I military personnel in a combat situation. (NOTE: Be sensitive to students who may have family serving in combat when choosing this activity).
   • Arrange the room in two opposite rows of desks in such a way as to emulate trenches.
   • Set a slide projector in the middle, which should be considered as “No Man’s Land.”
   • Have students sit or lie on the floor in the “trenches.”
   • Show the slideshow with war sounds playing.
   • Read poetry, diaries, or novels that detail life in the trenches.
   • After the slideshow, talk about experiences that soldiers had and explain how trench warfare differed from the types of warfare used in previous wars.
   
   
3. Show clips from movies or a documentary depicting the horrors of trench warfare. Have students discuss the concepts, sounds, and images from the presentation.
   
   
4. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity.