Curated OER
Looking at Photographs
Sixth graders evaluate photographs as historical documents. In this social studies lesson, 6th graders analyze photographs as propaganda.
First World War
First World war.com: Primary Documents: The "Willy Nicky" Telegrams
The content of ten telegrams exchanged between the German Emperor, Wilhelm II, and the Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, just prior to the outbreak of World War I, in the period from July 29 to August 1, 1914.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: u.s. Entry Into Wwi
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this historical inquiry lesson, students address the question, "What changed between 1914 and 1917 that caused the U.S. to enter WWI?" to corroborate a textbook account with two documents: a speech...
Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada: Community Stories: Wwi a Commemoration of Residents From Trinity & Area
Primary documents, images,audio clips and maps help to reveal the role Newfoundland, as the oldest British Colony, had during the First World War.
Brigham Young University
Harold B. Lee Library: The World War I Document Archive
Explore this archive of primary source documents from World War I. Content includes maps, photographs, various peace treaties, diary notes, official papers and more.
US National Archives
Docsteach: Wwi America: Babe Ruth's Draft Card
Students will examine the language of the WWI draft card for George Herman 'Babe' Ruth to try and determine differences between American society during World War I and the present day.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Sedition in World War I
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. This document-based inquiry lesson plan allows students to read anti-war literature from World War I critics...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Compare Wwi Posters Urging Americans to Conserve Food for War Effort
Students will speculate why the U. S. Food Administration created posters urging Americans to conserve wheat in multiple languages and what techniques the administration used to appeal to citizens.
Tom Richey
Tom Richey: World War I and Modernism
With the development of lethal technologies which led to incrementally more loss of life during WWI, Europeans altered their views of war. Examine the impact modern technologies had on this war with supplemental videos, lessons and...
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: World War I in u.s. Popular Culture
Learning module from the Newberry Library uses primary source materials to explore the impact of WWI on the American public and how WWI was promoted or criticized through the popular culture of the day. With questions for discussion.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: A Fire Waiting to Be Lit: The Origins of World War I
Complete learning module on the origins of World War I. Includes article with map, photos, primary source excerpts and questions for discussion as well as four common core activities, instructions and handouts for students and teachers....
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Private Donald Fraser
Contains a first-person primary source account of WWI that focuses on trench warfare and "No Man's Land."
Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada: Community Stories: Remembrance and Hope
Embrace the history of Innisfail Alberta's residents through stories of soldiers, nurses, cooks, war brides and wives left behind as they join in the war effort during WW l and WW ll. Included are pictures and primary source documents.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Odyssey: World War I and Postwar Society
Collection of primary source material from the Library of Congress chronicles the plight of African Americans during WWI and the Harlem Renaissance that followed.
Curated OER
History Matters: The Zimmerman Telegram Bringing America Closer to War
This is a copy of the actual Zimmerman Telegram where Germany states that it "Intends to begin - unrestricted submarine warfare." A great primary source that takes students deeper into historical understanding.
Other
Women in Military Service for America Memorial: Nurses
Read about the work of nurses in the military in Europe during World War I. In addition to the text description, you can see primary source pictures of identity documents and instructions for applying bandages.
Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society: Selling the War to the American Public
A resource filled with primary source materials, posters that promoted support for World War I. Included is a worksheet that can be used to analyze any of the resources, all of which are PDF files.
US National Archives
Docsteach: Americans on the Homefront Helped Win World War I
In this activity, students will match documents to visualize ways that Americans contributed to the war effort on the homefront during World War I. Students will see a payoff image related to the armistice celebration and reflect on the...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Baseball: A Morale Booster During Wartime?
Students will learn about the role of baseball on the American homefront during World Wars I and II. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (during World War I) and President (during World War II), commented on the...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Baseball on the World War I Homefront
Students will begin to learn about the changes that occurred on the American homefront because of World War I by analyzing correspondence from Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt and Boston Red Sox Owner and President...
First World War
First World war.com: Battle of the Somme
Read through a detailed summary of a famous Canadian-led World War I battle, the Battle of the Somme. The site contains a wealth of primary source resources including a progress map, links to biographies of important figures in the...
First World War
First World war.com: The Third Battle of Ypres
Read through a detailed summary of a famous Canadian-led World War I battle, the Battle of Passchendaele. The site contains a wealth of primary sources including a progress map and links to biographies of important figures in the battle....
Curated OER
Image
A site detailing the events leading up to the US' involvement in WWI, especially the sinking of the Laconia. Includes a primary source document, a newspaper article written at the time of the sinking.
Curated OER
Ma N10053
A thematic web exhibition featuring the 350,000 men who signed up to fight in World War I. The exhibition features why these men went and how they were persuaded to enlist using primary source images of photographs and posters. The...