The Great War: An Introduction to World War I

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

The Great War: An Introduction to World War I

What do you already know about World War I?

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the causes, events, and impact of World War I.

Introduce the learning objective to the students and explain the importance of studying World War I.

Slide 1: Introduction

World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918.

Provide a brief overview of World War I and its duration.

Slide 2: Causes of World War I

The main causes of World War I included militarism, alliances, imperialism, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Discuss the key factors that led to the outbreak of World War I.

Slide 3: The Spark: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1914, which served as a trigger for the war.

Explain the significance of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination in starting the war.

Slide 4: Alliances

European countries formed alliances to protect their interests and ensure mutual defense, leading to a complex web of alliances that escalated the conflict.

Highlight the role of alliances in exacerbating the scale of the war.

Slide 5: Major Powers Involved

The major powers involved in World War I were the Allies (including Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States) and the Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire).

Introduce the major powers on both sides of the conflict.

Slide 6: Trench Warfare

Trench warfare was a defining feature of World War I, with soldiers fighting from elaborate systems of trenches across the Western Front.

Explain the concept of trench warfare and its significance in World War I.

Slide 7: Technological Advancements

World War I saw the introduction of new weapons and technologies, including machine guns, tanks, poison gas, and aircraft, which transformed the nature of warfare.

Discuss the technological advancements that influenced the course of the war.

Slide 8: War on Multiple Fronts

World War I was fought on multiple fronts, including the Western Front, Eastern Front, Italian Front, and Balkan Front, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life.

Explain the different fronts and the impact of fighting on multiple fronts.

Slide 9: End of World War I

World War I ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which imposed heavy penalties on Germany and laid the foundation for future geopolitical tensions.

Discuss the significance of the Treaty of Versailles in ending the war and shaping the post-war world.

Slide 10: Impact of World War I

World War I had far-reaching consequences, including the redrawing of national borders, the collapse of empires, the rise of new nations, and the seeds of future conflicts.

Summarize the overall impact of World War I on the world.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.