A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). World war one. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/videos
This series of video clips will serve as a supplemental resource for this unit on the Great War. These comprehensive clips are short, concise, and focus on the essential content concepts that students will learn by engaging in various texts. These video clips are great mediums through which to help students review themes and essential concepts learned in previous lessons. The powerful visuals will help to enhance student understanding of complex concepts, such as, causes of the war, trench warfare, and reasons for United States
BBC. (n.d.). World wars in-depth: World war one trench virtual tour. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/launch_vt_wwone_trench.shtml
Because this virtual tour could be explored independently by each of my eight grade students, it is a great resource that students can engage in to deepen their knowledge and understanding of trenches and the role they played in the Great War. It is an interactive resource that will help students develop their understanding of the experiences of soldiers who fought in the trenches. This resource combines primary and secondary resources that will aid student understanding of this turbulent time in history. It will also compliment the primary source texts and first-hand accounts of soldiers and their experiences in the trenches by providing visuals and explanations of these war conditions.
Eldridge, J. (2008). The trenches: Billy stevens, the western front, 1914-1918. London , UK
This work of young adult literature will serve as a great supplemental resource to this unit. This text is at an independent level for the majority of my students, and an instructional level for a few of my struggling readers. It is a powerful book that explores the experiences of a young British boy during World War One. This text will help students deepen their understanding of what fighting was like on the European front through the lens of a British soldier. This will foster student understanding and appreciation of multiple perspectives and diversity. This book explores several themes related to this unit, such as, heroism, the realities of war, and service to ones country.
Fowke, B. (2003). Who? what? when? world war I. London , England
Although this book is designed for elementary students, this text can be used by my eight grade students. My students can engage in this text independently to support the knowledge and understanding they are constructing throughout this unit. This book is a great reference resource that explains key concepts, ideas, vocabulary, people, and places that are essential to know in this unit. Some key information explored in this text are rationing, Battle of the Somme , Edith Cavell, and Wilfred Owen. This text does a nice job organizing and presenting these concepts to the reader, and will spark student interest in these concepts.
Hemingway, E. (1929). A farewell to arms. New York , NY
This book is an instructional level text that could be used to explore more of the personal experiences of those involved in the first world war. This text exposes the trials and conflicts that plagued those on the battlefield, as well as those on the home front. This book will help students make connections to their lives and experiences as young people living during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Metzenthen, D. (2003). Boys of blood and bone, WWI. Camberwell , Australia
This engaging text about the lasting effects of war could be read by the majority of my students independently, but is at the instructional level for a few of my students. This text can be used for a read-aloud, as well as a text to help students understand the impact the war had on individuals directly and indirectly involved in the conflict. This text can also be used to help students visualize the events of the war. It will help explain the war and its lasting impact on the United States
The National Archives. (2008, November 3). Voices of the armistice: Gas attack! [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/voices-of-the-armistice-gas-attack-wo32-5169.mp3?pod=rss
This audio podcast could be independently used by my eight grade students. This is a vivid and engaging podcast that explores the horrors of war on the battle field. It also demonstrates how advances in technology influenced the war and how it is taught. It provides an account of a gas attack on soldiers on the front in 1915. This source could be used in a discussion web that explores the question: Were advances in technology beneficial for those fighting in World War One? It also helps students visualize what the war was like through a dramatic medium.
The National Archives. (2008, November 4). Voices of the armistice: German soldier’s war diary. [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/voices-of-the-armistice-germans-soldier-war-diary-cab45-166.mp3?pod=rss
This audio podcast is another exceptional resource that my eight grade students could engage in independently. This is a powerful and dramatic podcast that explores the experiences of a German soldier on the front. It is a great way to introduce students to the purpose and meaning involved in writing a diary or journal. It will be used to guide students as they create their own journal or diary entry from the perspective of an individual during that pivotal time in history. This source also helps students develop their understanding of the importance of recognizing multiple perspectives in the context of history.
The price of freedom: Americans at war. Smithsonian National Museum
This is an engaging and interactive resource that will help supplement student understanding of the causes and effects of the Great War. It is an interesting instructional-level resource that students will enjoy exploring. This resource exposes students to great primary source material to help aid their comprehension of complex concepts. It allows students to investigate artifacts from the first world war ranging from propaganda posters, uniforms, and military supplies. The combination of content and images will help students recognize the role of these items in the larger context of the war.
Remarque, E. M. (1929). All quiet on the western front. (A. W. Wheen, Trans.). Boston , MA
This work of young adult literature is a great instructional-level text that will help my students further their understanding of what the Great War was like for young people from other countries involved in the war. This text explores the experiences of a young German soldier who becomes a witness to the horrors of war while fighting in the trenches in France
Wilding, V. (2008). Road to war: A first world war girl’s diary, 1916-1917. London , England
This is an instructional-level resource that will help students develop their understanding of the effect of the war on those individuals directly involved in the conflict. This text exposes students to the experiences of a young woman who served as an ambulance driver in France
