Topic, class, and level: WWI Trench Simulation, Modern World History, 9th grade curriculum A Objectives: 1.

Allow students to experience what trench warfare was like 2. Introduce students to the music and sounds of WWI 3. Introduce students to the book, All Quiet on the Western Front Understandings: 1. Students will understand the harsh conditions under which soldiers fought during WWI 2. Students will understand what war was like on the western front through the reading of passages, music from the war, listening to soldiers stories of living in the trench. Assessment: For this class, the assessment will be student responses to the questions that I pose to them after each experience. These questions will include what soldiers do in the trenches/what they experience based on the readings, how it would make soldiers feel about war, why the activity was done, and what insights it gave students into wwi. The will also be asked more specific questions about each of the passages. Additionally, students will be asked to write a soldiers letter that will be due on Friday which will discuss their experiences in the war. Instructional Approach: 1. As students enter they I will have the song, Last Night Was the End of the World by Henry Burr playing with lyrics displayed on the document camera. This song is designed to give them a taste of the world prior to WWI. This song will only play as long as they are getting themselves situated into the trenches. 2. Once students are settled into the trenches I will begin playing WWI sound of the Western Front. This will play as I explain to students that they are now WWI soldiers waiting in the trenches for potential attack. I will also explain to students how we will be using the the All Quiet on the Western Front quotes that they have been given. I will also inform them that they will be asked to write a letter from the perspective of a soldier as a 10 point assignment so they should write down any information that they feel will help make their letter more accurate and experiential. At this time I will also show them a diagram of a trench. 3. Next students will be asked to listen to the soldier story from the BBC talking about Trench Life and describing what it was like to live in the trenches and what the trenches were like. I will then ask them what they think it would have been like to be living in the trench. I will also ask them what these trench systems looked like. I will then show them an overhead map of trenches, probably from France. 4. We will then read the All Quiet on the Western Front passage that is discussing the daily life of the soldiers, and will be shown the slide projection

showing Daily Life. I will pick two students to read this, one to read the first quotation, and another to read the second. The whole time there will be faint battle sounds playing. 5. Now I will switch the battle sound playing to the Battle Sounds clip. This will produce louder and more terrifying battle sounds. We will then read the passage about a Shell Bombardment from All Quiet on the Western Front. Students will be shown via document cam the image relating to the shell bombardment. After the reading of the quote students will be given the opportunity to bombard each other with paper. While they are bombarding each other with paper I will switch the projector from the document camera to the computer so that students may watch a clip from All Quiet on the Western Front showing a charge on the trenches. They will also listen to the BBC soldier story on going over the top of the trench. At this time we will also review what No Mans Land Is Students will then be asked to reflect on what they have heard, seen, and felt. 6. We will then go back to the quiet background WWI Western Front noises, we will then read the passage on dealing with boredom and cramped living quarters. We will also listen to Its a Long Way to Tipperary and the song Keep the Fires Burning. We will discuss why morale might drop and how these songs helped to keep morale high. Students will be given copies of the lyrics. We will also look at the associated image. The goal of this section will be to make students feel comfortable and relaxed after the stress of battle. 7. Then I will quietly switch back to the louder battle sounds, hopefully taking students by surprise. We will then read the selection on surviving a gas attack, and look at the associated picture. I will then play students the soldier story on surviving a gas attack. We will then reflect on what this experience may have been like. 8. I will then ask students some general reflection questions, including those on the back of my worksheet, and which form of warfare they feel would be the most terrifying. We will then wrap up class with the soldier letter assignment, and the fill ins that they are required to complete for homework. Materials Needed: 1. Images relating to the passages 2. Songs and battle sounds 3. Lyrics for songs that will be played 4. Soldier letter assignment handout 5. Discussion questions to ask students as they are sitting in the trenches