Summary
In this lesson, students analyze primary source documents, maps, and graphs to explore the underlying causes of World War I. Students extend their learning by evaluating a quote about war and summarize their learning by responding to the lesson’s essential question.
Essential Question(s)
Is war between nations inevitable?
Snapshot
Engage
Students examine a case file to discover the event that started World War I.
Explore
Students participate in a station activity and analyze a series of documents to determine the underlying causes of World War I.
Explain
Students categorize the documents analyzed into the acronym of M.A.I.N. to develop a deeper understanding of the causes of World War I.
Extend
Students participate in a four corners activity in response to a quote on war.
Evaluate
Students write a response to the question, “Was World War I inevitable for the nations involved to thrive and survive?”
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Case File handout (attached; one per pair)
Gallery Walk Documents (attached)
Guided Questions handout (attached; one per student)
M.A.I.N. Graphic Organizer (attached; one per student)
Highlighters
Engage
20 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the lesson. Move through slides 3–4 to review the essential question and lesson objective. Place students into partners and pass out the attached Case File handout to each pair of students. Display slide 5 and introduce the Why-Lighting strategy. Tell students to pretend they are detectives trying to solve a case. Have students highlight the case information on the slide which includes the location of the murder, the victims, the murderer, his or her motive, and the aftermath. In the margin, next to where students highlight, they should write the explanation for highlighting.
After students review the handout, move to slide 6. Ask students to discuss the questions:
Why was the Archduke assassinated?
What happened afterward?
Move to slide 7 and have students discuss the questions on the slide:
Is one person’s murder enough to justify a world war?
Is an alliance,
the promise to have someone’s back, enough to justify a world war?
What other reasons might cause countries to engage in war?
After providing time for discussion, have several students share their thoughts.
Explore
30 Minute(s)
Pass out the attached Guided Questions handout to each student. Move to slide 8. Divide up the class so that there are an equal number of students at each station. Tell students they are going to investigate the underlying causes of World War I by visiting the 12 stations.
Have students travel to each station and answer the questions on their handout.
Explain
45 Minute(s)
Have students return to their seats and pass out the attached MAIN Graphic Organizer handout to each student. Explain that the documents can be categorized into four areas, militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism, commonly referred to as M.A.I.N.. Move through slides 9–12 and review the meaning of each concept. As you describe each concept, have students fill in the definitions for each one on the handout. Then, have students work in partners to complete the rest of the handout using the notes they took in the last activity.
After providing time for students to complete the handout, review them as a class.
Extend
15 Minute(s)
Move to slide 13 and provide time for students to read the quote on the slide. Have students discuss what the quote means with an Elbow Partner. Ask for a few volunteers to share what they discussed.
Display slide 14 and introduce students to the Four Corners strategy. Have students move to an area of the classroom based on their agreement with the quote. Ask each group to discuss their reasoning for their agreement and choose a spokesperson to present what they discussed.
Evaluate
15 Minute(s)
Have students return to their seats and display slide 15. Ask students to write a response to the question on the slide: “Was World War I inevitable for the nations involved to survive and thrive?” Ask students to include the role of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in their response.
Collect the handouts to review and check for student understanding of the lesson content.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.) Elbow partners. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/116
K20 Center. (n.d.). Four corners. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/138
K20 Center. (n.d.). Why-lighting. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/128