Depth Study 3: Australians At War: World Wars I (1914-1918) Lesson Plan for 10th Grade Students

Topic: Australians at War: World Wars I (1914-1918)

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the causes of World War I.
• Students will be able to identify the regions where Australians fought and explain their role in the war.

Materials:

• Copies of the map of World War I theaters (see below)
• Handouts with information on World War I and the role of Australians in the war
• Access to the internet for research purposes

Warm-Up

• Begin by asking students to share what they already know about World War I. Write their responses on the board.
• Next, show the class a picture or video of an Allied or Central Powers soldier and ask students to identify which side he represents.

Direct Instruction

• Begin by discussing the causes of World War I. Emphasize the importance of alliances and treaties in the lead-up to the war.
• Next, show the class a map of Europe and point out the countries involved in the war. Discuss the reasons for their involvement, including nationalism, imperialism, and the desire to expand territory.
• Then, discuss the ways in which the war was fought. Emphasize the use of new technologies, such as airplanes and tanks, as well as the use of chemical weapons.
• Finally, explain why Australians were enlisted to fight. Discuss the role of patriotism and the promise of adventure and opportunities for advancement as motivations for enlistment.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and assign each group one of the following topics:
• The Gallipoli Campaign
• Trench Warfare
• The Battle of the Somme
• Have each group research their topic and report back to the class with their findings.
• As a class, create a timeline of World War I, including the major events and battles.

Independent Practice

• For independent practice, students will create a project-based situation.
• As a class, brainstorm a list of potential situations that Australians could have found themselves in during World War I.
• Have students choose one of the situations and research it thoroughly.
• Have students create a presentation (can be in the form of a poster, a video, or a written report) on their chosen situation, including a description of the circumstances, the challenges they faced, and the impact that the experience had on them.

Closure

• Review the key points of the lesson and ask students to share their takeaways from the independent practice.
• Ask students to reflect on what they have learned about Australians at war and how it relates to their own lives and the world around them.

Assessment:

• Assess students' understanding of the causes of WWI and Australians' participation in the war through class discussions and group presentations.
• Evaluate students' ability to conduct independent research and create a video or website project using the provided topic or a chosen topic.
• Administer a quiz to assess students' knowledge of key facts and events related to Australians at war in the two world wars.