Causes of WW1

Curriculum Reference

• Subject: History
• Key Stage: 3
• Year Group: Year 8
• Curriculum Area: "Challenges for Europe and the wider world, 1901 to the present day"
• Duration: 60 minutes

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Understand and describe the main causes of World War 1 (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism - MAIN).
2. Analyse primary sources including political cartoons, photographs, and a video.
3. Develop critical thinking skills by interpreting historical evidence.

Resources Needed

• Political cartoons from the early 20th century.
• Photographs related to pre-WW1 events.
• A short video explaining the causes of WW1.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Printed handouts of the sources.
• Projector and screen for the video.

Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Starter Activity: (5 minutes)

   • Welcome the students and briefly introduce the topic.
   • Ask them to brainstorm what they already know about the causes of World War 1.
   • Record their thoughts on the whiteboard to refer back to later.

2. Learning Objectives: (5 minutes)

   • Explain the learning objectives clearly.
   • Discuss the importance of understanding the causes of WW1.

Main Activities

Analysing Political Cartoons and Photographs (20 minutes)

1. Group Activity: (10 minutes)

   • Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students.
   • Each group receives a printed political cartoon and a photograph from the pre-WW1 era.
   • Students analyse the sources using guiding questions on the handouts (e.g., What do you see? What message is the cartoon/photograph trying to convey?).

2. Discussion: (10 minutes)

   • Groups share their findings with the class.
   • Encourage students to discuss different interpretations.
   • Write key points on the whiteboard for reference.

Video and Discussion (20 minutes)

1. Watching the Video: (10 minutes)

   • Show a short video explaining the MAIN causes of WW1.
   • Ask students to take notes on key points mentioned in the video.

2. Class Discussion: (10 minutes)

   • Discuss the video as a class.
   • Compare the causes mentioned in the video with what was found in the political cartoons and photographs.
   • Highlight how different types of sources can provide a fuller picture of historical events.

Conclusion (10 minutes)

1. Summary: (5 minutes)

   • Summarise the main causes of WW1, referring to the whiteboard notes.
   • Reiterate the importance of analysing various sources to understand historical events.

2. Q&A Session: (5 minutes)

   • Open the floor for any questions or reflections.
   • Address any areas of confusion and provide additional insights as necessary.

Extension Activity/Homework

• Ask students to create their own political cartoon about one of the MAIN causes of WW1.
• They should include a brief explanation of their cartoon and how it conveys the cause.

Assessment

• Informal assessment through observation during group activities and class discussions.
• Evaluation of students’ political cartoons if assigned as homework.

Reflection

• At the end of the lesson, ask students to reflect on what they have learned by writing a short paragraph on how understanding the causes of WW1 can help prevent future conflicts.

This lesson plan combines interactive activities, multimedia resources, and critical thinking exercises designed to engage Year 8 students and deepen their understanding of the causes of World War 1.