Unit 7: World War I
 
Frameworks for America's Past




Click on the links below -
 

Teacher Key - for Unit 7

Maps - for Unit 7

Review - map places

Review - take a quiz!
Historical photo sets


1.  Causes of World War I

2.
 
The sinking of the Lusitania  

3.  The weapons of World War I  

4.  America enters the war in 1917

5.  The Treaty of Versailles
History food feature
Saving sugar and wheat  (recipes for tasty foods made without sugar and wheat)
Exploring further
From primary sources: World War I posters
Videos and
Internet sites



Students: Check with your
parents for permission before visiting Internet links.


WW I begins in 1914 and the sinking of the Lusitania (1915) - segment from The Century: America's Time - Shell Shock (1 of 3).  Watch from 0:43 to 13:43.

Trench warfare and deadly new weapons - segment from The Century: America's Time - Shell Shock (2 of 3).  Watch from 1:20 to 5:25.  This clip includes graphic scenes of war along the front lines in northern France as the British and French soldiers tried to stop the invasion of the German army.

America enters the war in 1917; the victory in 1918 - segment from The Century: America's Time - Shell Shock (3 of 3).  Watch from 0:00 to 8:00.

Aftermath of the war; the Versailles Treaty - segment from The Century: America's Time - Shell Shock (3 of 3).  Watch from 8:54 to 13:14.

Christmas truce in the trenches 1914  (This TV ad was produced by a British company for Christmas 2014.  It was inspired by a true event that happened early in WWI.  Click on the links at the end of the video to learn more about it.)

Submarines (U-boats) in WWI  (a short video)

The American home front in WWI  (a short video with scenes of Americans and the war effort on the home front)

Going for the Gold  (She is German, he's a Frenchman.  Look what is possible when the guns of war are silent.  This is the incredible routine they took to the Winter Olympics 2018 and won the gold medal!)


Music:  Over There  (a video of the famous WWI song by George M. Cohan that declares to the world that "The Yanks are coming, and we won't be back 'till it's over over there")
Consider also:
The World Wars, a miniseries and DVD set produced by the History Channel, has lots of video segments good for this unit.  Find the Bonus Features section on the second disc, and click on "Featurettes" for dramatic clips on topics such as the weapons of WWI, life for soldiers in the trenches, and more.  The first featurette, in which historians choose one word that best describes the war, is a great hook for engaging students as you start the unit.  The first episode of the series, on the first disc, is titled "Trial by Fire,"  It dramatizes the people and events of WWI.  It's too long to just load and play, so break it up and show the segments that will help hold students' interest throughout the unit.






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