WORLD WAR I
In this activity, you will work in groups to examine the causes and effects of the Great War from the perspective
of the involved country that has been assigned to you in class. Use the accompanying question sheet as you
navigate the Web to gather data regarding your assigned country. Each group member should work to
navigate the websites to contribute to this project. This activity spans several days. On the first day, it is
expected that your group will have completed the question sheet (each group member must have his/her
own copy of the completed sheet). For the following days of this activity, your group will spend the class
period creating a presentation that summarizes your findings to share with the class - using ONLY the supplies
I will be providing to your groups on that day. On the final day of this activity, all groups will present their
findings to the rest of the class.
This activity is designed to allow you to examine the causes - and the devastating effects - of the First World
War from a variety of perspectives. What did the great powers involved hope to gain by entering into war? Did
they achieve their aims? Ultimately, at what cost were these objectives reached?
The big idea: WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF WORLD WAR I?
Task Summary:
You have been assigned with a group to discover information about the First World War specific to a particular
country. This activity is divided into a few steps:
1) Complete the Web Quest activity in order to answer the questions provided to you in class (each group
member must complete his or her own sheet);
2) Summarize your results into a format (poster/PowerPoint/presentation) to share with the rest of the class
your answer to the Big Idea;
The Web Quest should be completed in one class period. The second class period will be devoted to the
compilation of your data and to the creation of your presentations. All groups will present their findings in the
final class.
Process:
With your group, complete the questionnaire given to you in class - answers should be written separately from
the question sheet, on loose-leaf. Each group member should be actively contributing to the Web Quest
research. You may wish to divide the questions equally among the members of your group, or you may prefer
to work at the same rate and work together to find the answers. At times, you will find data that seems to be
conflicting. Record all of your findings on the questionnaire sheet. You will be able to examine your results
during the second class in order to decide which information is most valuable, relevant, and accurate.
Be sure to indicate the name of the country you are researching on your questionnaire sheet and on your
posters. Use the links below to guide you as you locate information. Use your time wisely - you have only one
class to complete the Web Quest. Work together to locate the answers. Keep in mind, there might not always
be a "right" answer to the questions on your sheet. The purpose of this activity is not to draw definite
conclusions or assign blame - it is to explore the Great War from multiple perspectives.
France
www.firstworldwar.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.richthofen.com/ww1sum/
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/balkan_causes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
England
www.firstworldwar.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/balkan_causes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
Canada
www.firstworldwar.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/balkan_causes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
Germany
www.firstworldwar.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.richthofen.com/ww1sum/
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/balkan_causes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/war_end_01.shtml
Russia
www.firstworldwar.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/causes.htm
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/balkan_causes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/war_end_01.shtml
Other possible countries: Italy, Belgium, Hungary, USA, Austria, Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
Mastery - 4
Independent - 3
Instructional - 2
Intervention - 1
Support For Opinion
Support is detailed
and persuasive.
Your supportive
evidence is believable
and basic.
There is little or no
support for your
opinion.
Presentation
Sophisticated,
engaging, mastery of
topic
Your supportive
evidence is credible,
convincing and
thoughtful
Clear communication;
planning is evident.
Little evidence of
planning or
preparation;
presentation is not
engaging.
Off topic or
plagarized
Analysis
In depth analysis,
multiple factors
identified and
explained thoroughly
and critically.
Effective analysis;
major factors are
identified and clearly
explained.
Little evidence of
analysis or
understanding.
Off topic or
plagarized
"When you go home
Tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow
We gave our today."