Allies and Central Powers

Curriculum Reference

Area: History
Level: Key Stage 2 – Year 6
UK National Curriculum Link: Pupils should “understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world, including the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind.”

This lesson builds on students’ knowledge from the previous session on World War 1 (WW1) and focuses on alliances, power dynamics, territorial influences, and exploring Japan’s unique role in the war.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

1. Identify the key countries in the Allies and Central Powers alliances during WW1.
2. Understand and explain why certain countries were powerful during this period.
3. Use a world map to visually represent alliances and occupied territories.
4. Explore and evaluate Japan’s lesser-known contributions and motivations in WW1.

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Required Materials

1. Large world map (to be displayed on a smart board or whiteboard)
2. Printed maps for group work (A3 size, blank outlines of continents)
3. Coloured pencils (green for Allies, red for Central Powers)
4. A printed fact sheet on Japan’s role in WW1 (provided at the end of the class).
5. Sticky notes or small flags (to mark countries on maps).

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Lesson Plan (40 minutes)

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Task: “Who fought who?”

• Begin with a recap question: "What caused WW1 to involve so many countries fighting in alliances?" Briefly remind students about the tensions covered in Lesson 1.
• Introduce today’s focus: “In this lesson, we will explore which countries were on each side, what made them powerful, and some surprising contributions, including Japan’s!”
• Write the labels Allies and Central Powers on the board. Ask the class to brainstorm and shout out any key countries they remember being involved in, categorising them into the two sides.

Expected Responses: Allies (e.g., Britain, France, Russia), Central Powers (e.g., Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire).

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Main Activity 1: Map Territories and Alliances (15 minutes)

Task: Visualising the WW1 World Map

1. Large Map Demonstration (5 mins):

   • Use the large world map to show the territories under the Allies and Central Powers in 1914 at the start of the war. Highlight:
     • British Empire (including colonies such as India and Australia).
     • France’s overseas territories in Africa.
     • The vastness of the Russian Empire.
     • Key Central Powers territories (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire).
   • Annotate the map to signify major alliance blocs and key neutral countries.

2. Group Activity (10 mins):

   • Divide the class into small groups (4-5 students).
   • Hand out blank maps and ask students to label and shade the territories of the Allies (green) and Central Powers (red). Use sticky notes or small flags to identify the specific countries. Neutral countries can remain blank.
   • Circulate around the classroom offering support and checking for accuracy.

Expected Outcome: Students should grasp the extent of territorial influence and the global nature of WW1 alliances.

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Main Activity 2: What Made Countries Powerful? (10 minutes)

Task: Analyse power dynamics in WW1

1. Teacher-Guided Discussion (5 mins):

   • Explain the factors contributing to power in 1914:
     • Military strength (e.g., Germany’s well-trained army).
     • Economic resources (e.g., Britain’s industrial power).
     • Colonies (e.g., French and British access to additional troops and supplies from colonies).
     • Geographic size (e.g., Russia’s vast empire acting as both a strength and weakness).
   • Use simple, concrete examples (e.g., “It’s like two teams playing football; one side has a deep bench with lots of players, but the other team has incredibly fast and strong forwards.”).

2. Small-Group Task (5 mins):

   • Groups are asked to rank the top three most powerful countries of WW1 (based on information shared).
   • Each group shares their reasoning with the class briefly.

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Plenary Activity: Japan’s Role (10 minutes)

Task: Discovering Japan in WW1

1. Storytime (Teacher-Led - 5 mins):

   • Share an engaging mini-narrative about Japan’s involvement:
     • Japan joined the Allies in 1914 under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, targeting Germany’s colonies in Asia and the Pacific.
     • Japan captured German-controlled territories such as Tsingtao (China) and Micronesian islands.
     • Emphasise Japan’s motivation: expanding its influence in Asia and proving itself on the global stage.

2. Quick Quiz/Game (5 mins):

   • Pose true/false questions on Japan’s role to the class. Examples:
     • “Japan fought for the Allies in WW1.” (True)
     • “Japan joined the Central Powers to oppose Britain.” (False)
     • “Japan’s role was limited to Europe.” (False)
   • Award group points for correct answers.

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Extension Task (for Early Finishers)

• Ask students to write a short sentence about one thing they learned that surprised them about Japan’s involvement in WW1.

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Homework

Students are tasked with creating a fact sheet or short paragraph (no more than 150 words) on their favourite WW1 country studied in the lesson. They should include whether it was part of the Allies or Central Powers and one unique fact they found interesting.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe pupils’ contributions during brainstorming and group map work.
• Assess group rankings of the most powerful countries based on reasoning provided.
• Evaluate the plenary quiz responses and engagement with Japan’s role in WW1.

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Differentiation

• Higher-achieving pupils: Challenge them to identify the motivations behind the alliances or why some countries remained neutral.
• Lower-achieving pupils: Provide additional support during the map task by offering pre-labelled outlines or assigning specific countries for them to identify.
• EAL Pupils: Use visuals and provide a simple glossary of key terms (e.g., Allies, Central Powers, Neutral).

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Reflection

At the end of the lesson, ask pupils to reflect on the following question:
“What surprised you the most about which countries were involved and why?” Record answers on the board to show diverse perspectives.

This lesson ensures interactive learning while aligning with UK education standards and captivating students’ interest with lesser-known elements like Japan’s role in WW1.