World War I Impact

Grade: Secondary Special Education

Class Size: 10 students
Duration: 30 minutes
Unit: Rise of a World Power (Lesson 8 of 10)
Focus: Analyze causes and effects of World War I on the US, explore America’s changed global role.

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Common Core Standards Alignment

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.3: Analyze how a text makes connections among individuals, events, and ideas (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or cause/effect)
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a historical context
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using descriptive details
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas clearly

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify three main causes of World War I that influenced the US entering the war.
2. Describe two major impacts World War I had on the United States domestically and internationally.
3. Communicate ideas about how WWI changed America’s role in world affairs through a simple written or verbal summary.
4. Collaborate with peers using sentence starters and visual supports to express their understanding.

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Materials Needed

• Visual timeline poster of WWI causes & effects
• Simplified cause/effect graphic organizer (with icons/images)
• Short, adapted text passage on America and WWI (reading level appropriate for special ed)
• Sentence starter cards (e.g., “One cause of WWI was…”, “The US changed by…”)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Timer
• Projector or printed images showing WWI events on US soil/world map

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Lesson Schedule and Activities

1. Warm-Up Discussion (5 minutes)

• Objective: Activate prior knowledge about WWI.
• Activity:
  • Teacher shows 3-4 images related to WWI (soldiers, US flag, world map).
  • With guided questions, students briefly share what they know or think about WWI.
  • Use a think-pair-share approach: Students think silently, share with a partner, then volunteers share with the group.
• Supports: Provide sentence starters on cards; use visual cues.

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2. Mini-Lesson: Causes & Effects of WWI on the US (10 minutes)

• Objective: Understand basic causes and effects of WWI related to the US.
• Activity:
  • Teacher reads aloud an adapted passage describing:
    • Causes: Unrestricted submarine warfare, Zimmermann telegram, economic interests.
    • Effects: US military involvement, economic boom, increased world power status.
  • Use the visual timeline poster to reinforce sequencing.
  • Students complete a graphic organizer, matching cause to effect using pictures and simple phrases (teacher guides and supports).

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3. Interactive Group Discussion & Role Play (8 minutes)

• Objective: Express understanding of WWI’s impact on the US using verbal skills.
• Activity:
  • Break students into pairs. Each pair chooses a role: a US soldier, a factory worker, or government official from that era.
  • Using sentence starters, pairs role-play a short dialogue about how WWI affected their character’s life.
  • Example starter: “Because of WWI, I had to…” or “The war helped the US by…”
  • Each pair presents their dialogue to the class.

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4. Closing & Formative Assessment (7 minutes)

• Objective: Summarize and demonstrate understanding.
• Activity:
  • Students individually complete a 3–4 sentence writing prompt (or verbal response if needed) using sentence starters:

    “World War I caused the US to…
    One way the US changed after WWI was…”

  • Teacher collects responses or records student verbal answers.
• Assessment: Check for accuracy and comprehension of key causes and effects from the lesson.

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Differentiation

• For students with limited writing skills: Allow oral responses recorded by teacher or use picture-based communication boards.
• For students needing more support: Use one-on-one prompting during graphic organizer and role play.
• For advanced learners: Encourage adding one additional cause/effect with teacher support.

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Reflection for Teacher

• Did students grasp the basic cause-effect relationship?
• Which communication methods helped students express their ideas best?
• Were the sentence starters and visual supports effective?
• Adjust future lessons based on student engagement and comprehension.

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This 30-minute lesson is designed to engage secondary special education students with accessible, interactive methods that align with Common Core standards for reading informational texts, speaking & listening, and writing. Use expressive visuals, structured supports, and collaborative activities to create a meaningful understanding of how World War I shifted America's position in the world.