Life in the trenches

Lesson Plan

1. Starter: Trench warfare - Duration 5-10 mins

Episode	Learning Objectives	Resources
Display Slides 1-3 which contain images showing the type of warfare prevalent during the 18th and 19th century. Then display Slides 4-9 which contain images depicting trench warfare / life in the trenches during the First World War. Ask students how they think WW1 differed from 18th and 19th Century campaigns? What implications were there for the troops who had to fight in this way? Explain to the class that fighting in the First World War was very different to previous campaigns.	Recognise that this was a different type of warfare that had been encountered previously. Think about how this experience of warfare differed to previously types.	Slides

Teacher Notes: 1. Starter: Trench warfare

2: Gathering Information - Duration 5-10 mins

Episode	Learning Objectives	Resources
Arrange students into groups of 5 and allocate each member of the group one of the following aspects of trench life: Conditions Health Trench routine Spare time Communications with home Using the Student Worksheets pertinent to their specific area, students should spend 5-10 minutes taking notes about their allocated aspect of trench life. Their respective areas of 'expertise' will be used in the following episode.	Attempt to read and remember historical information. Be able to identify useful information. Begin to understand some of the elements of life in the trenches.	Student Worksheets 1-5

Teacher Notes: 2: Gathering Information

3: Meet the experts - Duration 10-15 mins

Episode	Learning Objectives	Resources
Each student should now spend three-minutes relaying the information they have discovered about their topic to the rest of the group. Students should attempt to relay as much information as possible without referring to their notes. They can then consult their notes to check whether there was any information they omitted. Students should make notes on the information which the other members of their group present. Once this has been completed display Slides 10-13 which contain a poem about trench life by Robert Service. Ask students whether it corroborates their research in Episode 2.	Recall information from memory. Present to a group. Listening skills. Team work skills.	Slides

Teacher Notes: 3: Meet the experts

4: Defence of the Realm Act - Duration 25-30 mins

Episode	Learning Objectives	Resources
Display Slides 14-16 which provide an overview of the Defence of the Realm Act and its purpose. Students should study the source material on Student Worksheet 6 and work through the questions on Student Worksheet 7. When they have completed these exercises ask students to write a letter home from the perspective of a soldier fighting in the trenches. Once completed, students should swap their work with the person next to them. Using the laws put in place by the Defence of the Realm Act, invite students to censor each other's letters to ensure they are 'fit' to send home.	Understand the purpose of the Defence of the Realm Act. Apply their knowledge of the Act in a practical exercise.	Slides Student Worksheets 6-7 Marker Pens

Teacher Notes: 4: Defence of the Realm Act

5. Plenary: Morale - Duration 5-10 mins

Episode	Learning Objectives	Resources
Now that students have an understanding of what life was like for soldiers in the trenches, ask them to identify two aspects of trench life that strengthened morale. In addition, they should also try to think of two aspects that would lead to decreased morale. Ask students to justify their reasons.	Using the information gleaned throughout the lesson to consider the larger impact on psychological well-being.	N/A

Teacher Notes: 5. Plenary: Morale

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