Legacy of WW1

National Curriculum Context

Subject: History
Key Stage: 4 (Year 11)
Exam Board: Edexcel GCSE
Topic: Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939)
Focus: Legacy of WW1 and Weimar Republic formation
Curriculum Links:
- Understand the significant causes and consequences of key events in British and world history (NC History Programmes of Study, Key Stage 4)
- Develop historical knowledge and understanding of change and continuity, cause and consequence, similarity and difference, and significance
- Apply historical skills including source analysis and extended writing

Learning Objectives

By the end of this 60-minute lesson, students will:

Explain the impact of World War One on Germany’s political, social, and economic situation by 1918.
Analyse reasons behind the collapse of the Kaiser’s Second Reich.
Judge who was responsible for the peaceful transfer of power to the Weimar Republic.
Apply source analysis skills to answer an Edexcel-style 8-mark source question with confidence.
Reflect critically on their progress using green pen feedback to improve exam technique.

Success Criteria

I can describe at least three key impacts of WW1 on Germany by 1918.
I can explain the factors that led to the Kaiser's abdication.
I can evaluate different interpretations about responsibility for the transition to the Weimar Republic using historical evidence.
I can confidently analyse sources and construct a balanced argument for an 8-mark question.
I can review my own work and make improvements using green pen.

Resources Needed

PowerPoint presentation with images, timelines, and key facts
Printed copies of two contrasting sources related to the Kaiser's abdication and Weimar transition
Edexcel 8-mark source question on impact of WW1 on Germany / transition to Weimar
Whiteboards / mini-plenaries cards for quick AFL activities
Green pens for peer/self-assessment
Lined exercise books or folders for writing and reflection
Timer for pacing activities

Lesson Structure (60 minutes)

1. Starter – Quick Recall & Engagement (5 minutes)

Activity: On mini whiteboards, students individually write three consequences of WW1 that they already know about Germany.
Display a short impactful image of 1918 Germany (e.g., starving civilians, defeated army) and ask: “What story does this image tell about Germany in 1918?”
Share a few responses to link to lesson focus.

Assessment for Learning (AFL):

Spot misconceptions or gaps from whiteboard answers for reteaching emphasis.

2. Direct Teaching – Impact of WW1 on Germany (15 minutes)

Use PowerPoint to outline:
- Military defeat and Treaty of Versailles looming
- Economic problems: inflation, food shortages, workers’ strikes
- Social unrest: November Revolution, political upheaval
- Abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II and end of monarchy
Include brief video clip (2 mins) or vivid primary source quote from November 1918 for emotional impact.

Check Understanding: Use 3 quick verbal questions with thumbs up/down for immediate AFL feedback.

3. Group Activity – Who Was Responsible? (15 minutes)

Split class into 5 groups; each given one cause or actor responsible for the transfer of power:
1. Kaiser Wilhelm II
2. The military leadership (Ludendorff, Hindenburg)
3. Socialists and Spartacists
4. Workers and sailors (Revolutionaries)
5. Political elites supporting Weimar
Each group analyses a source or short extract related to their actor/cause and discusses:
“To what extent were they responsible for the peaceful transfer of power?”
Groups prepare a short statement (2-3 sentences) summarising their judgement and evidence.

AFL: Groups share responses and receive immediate peer feedback using green pen annotations on printed sheets.

4. Exam Practice – 8 Mark Source Question (20 minutes)

Distribute Edexcel GCSE-style 8-mark source question:

“Using the sources and your knowledge, explain the impact of WW1 on Germany and who was responsible for the transition from the Kaiser’s rule to the Weimar Republic.”
Model writing a strong introduction and paragraph using scaffolding.
Students write their own response in exercise books, explicitly applying PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link) structure citing sources from group task and own knowledge.
Use a timer to manage writing time.

5. Review, Green Pen & Reflection (5 minutes)

Students exchange books with a partner and mark using green pens, focusing on:
- Use of evidence
- Clear judgement
- Structure and linking
Teacher circulates and provides prompt questions to guide peer assessment (e.g., “Can you add a sentence to explain why that evidence matters?”).
Finally, students reflect in 2-3 sentences:
“What have I improved today and what will I do next time to improve further?”

Differentiation and Inclusion

Support: Source extracts highlighted with key words and separate question prompts for lower ability students.
Challenge: Extension task to write a 12-mark extended answer or develop analysis of how public opinion influenced transfer of power for higher ability.
Engagement: Visuals, group discussions, peer assessment to engage different learning styles.

Assessment and Progress

AFL throughout lesson via questioning and mini whiteboards.
Peer/self-assessment using green pen promotes metacognitive skills in exam preparation.
Exam style question as formative assessment to prepare for public exam conditions.
Reflection encourages continuous improvement aligned with National Curriculum emphasis on progression and confidence in historical enquiry.

Teacher Notes and Tips

Emphasise debating responsibility—not just recalling facts—to build evaluative skills central to GCSE History.
Encourage students to reference specific details from sources, linking them back to context learned.
Model effective exam answers with clear judgement language (“This suggests… because…”).
Use the green pen assessment as a positive tool, framing errors as “next steps” rather than mistakes.

This lesson plan is designed to make the complex legacy of WW1 in Germany engaging, accessible, and directly targeted at exam success in line with the National Curriculum for History at Key Stage 4.

Teaching Instructions