Instructional Video

Edith Cavell - Not A Martyr But A Nurse

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Was British nurse Edith Cavell a spy? Just doing her job? A martyr and saint? Perhaps all of the above? Edith Cavell was executed by a hastily arranged firing squad for helping wounded British soldiers in German-occupied Belgium during World War I. She wanted to be remembered as a nurse, but historical evidence suggests she was a spy. Discover the many sides of Edith Cavell and delve into the intriguing questions with an interesting video sure to please.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • After viewing the video biography, discuss the role propaganda played in the Great War 
  • Offer video as research for topics about women in World War I or the development of nursing
Classroom Considerations
  • Part of Who Did What in World War I? video biography series
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Narrator engages viewers with quotes from Cavell
  • Biography situates Cavell in the larger context of the war
Cons
  • None
Common Core