Designed to introduce and explain the causes of the First World War in an accessible and age-appropriate way to students in Years 3-4 and Years 5-6. They explain complex historical factors, such as alliances, nationalism, militarism and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, as simpler concepts. Through activities and illustrations, students learn how European tensions and alliances escalated into a major conflict. The purpose is to teach students about the consequences of war and to develop a basic understanding of how and why historical conflicts begin.
, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Series: First World War Workbooks
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Teaching sensitivities
Teachers are advised to be sensitive to the perspectives and emotions of students while using this resource. Teachers will need to consider the religious and cultural beliefs of their students, any experiences of war or conflict, or parents serving in the defence forces, when working through the activities. It is the responsibility of teachers to consider whether it is appropriate to use this resource with their students.
Learning intentions
These educational resources will help students in discovering:
- key aspects of the First World War
- the experiences of the men and women involved
- build empathy and understanding about those who served.
The activities in each workbook are designed to develop student's historical skills, such as:
- a sense of wonder, curiosity of the past
- an appreciation of historical developments
- using inquiry methods and skills such as questioning, analysing, evaluation and communicating.
Download the teacher notes [PDF 5.4 MB] to support learning outcomes for students.
Australian Curriculum
The activities in the First World War Workbook series align with version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum for Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS).
Foundation Year
Knowledge and understanding
- History: the celebrations and commemorations of significant events shared with their families and others (AC9HSFK02).
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and researching: pose questions about familiar objects, people, places and events (AC9HSFS01); sort and record information including pictorial timelines and locations on pictorial maps or models (AC9HS2S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating: share a perspective on information, such as stories about significant events and special places (AC9HSFS03).
- Concluding and decision-making: draw conclusions in response to questions (AC9HSFS04).
- Communicating: share narratives and observations, using sources and terms about the past and places (AC9HSFS05).
Year 1
Knowledge and understanding
- History: continuity and change between aspects of their daily lives and their parents’ and grandparents’ childhoods (AC9HS1K02).
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and research: develop questions about objects, people, places and events in the past and present (AC9HS1S01); collect, sort and record information and data from observations and from provided sources, including unscaled timelines and labelled maps or models (AC9HS1S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating: interpret information and data from observations and provided sources, including the comparison of objects from the past and present (AC9HS1S03); discuss perspectives related to objects, people, places and events (AC9HS1S04).
- Concluding and decision-making: draw conclusions and make proposals (AC9HS1S05).
- Communicating: develop narratives and share observations, using sources, and subject-specific terms (AC9HS1S06).
Year 2
Knowledge and understanding
- History: a local individual, group, place or building and the reasons for their importance, including social, cultural or spiritual significance (AC9HS2K01).
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and research: develop questions about objects, people, places and events in the past and present (AC9HS2S01); collect, sort and record information and data from observations and from provided sources, including unscaled timelines and labelled maps or models (AC9HS2S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating: interpret information and data from observations and provided sources, including the comparison of objects from the past and present (AC9HS1S03); discuss perspectives related to objects, people, places and events (AC9HS1S04).
- Concluding and decision-making: draw conclusions and make proposals (AC9HS1S05).
- Communicating: develop narratives and share observations, using sources, and subject-specific terms (AC9HS1S06).
Year 3
Knowledge and understanding
- History: causes and effects of changes to the local community, and how people who may be from diverse backgrounds have contributed to these changes (AC9HS3K01).
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and research: develop questions to guide investigations about people, events, places and issues (AC9HS3S01); locate, collect and record information and data from a range of sources, including annotated timelines and maps (AC9HS3S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating: interpret information and data displayed in different formats (AC9HS3S03); analyse information and data, and identify perspectives (AC9HS3S04).
- Concluding and decision-making: draw conclusions based on analysis of information (AC9HS3S05); propose actions or responses to an issue or challenge that consider possible effects of actions (AC9HS3S06).
- Communicating: present descriptions and explanations, using ideas from sources and relevant subject-specific terms (AC9HS3S07).
Year 4
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and researching: develop questions to guide investigations about people, events, places and issues (AC9HS4S01); locate, collect and record information and data from a range of sources, including annotated timelines and maps (AC9HS4S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluation: interpret information and data displayed in different formats (AC9HS4S03); analyse information and data, and identify perspectives (AC9HS4S04).
- Concluding and decision-making: draw conclusions based on analysis of information (AC9HS4S05); propose actions or responses to an issue or challenge that consider possible effects of actions (AC9HS4S06).
- Communicating: present descriptions and explanations, using ideas from sources and relevant subject-specific terms (AC9HS4S07).
Year 5
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and researching: develop questions to investigate people, events, developments, places and systems (AC9HS5S01); locate, collect and organise information and data from primary and secondary sources in a range of formats (AC9HS5S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating: evaluate information and data in a range of formats to identify and describe patterns and trends, or to infer relationships (AC9HS5S03); evaluate primary and secondary sources to determine origin, purpose and perspectives (AC9HS5S04).
- Concluding and decision-making: develop evidence-based conclusions (AC9HS5S05); propose actions or responses to issues or challenges and use criteria to assess the possible effects (AC9HS5S06).
- Communicating: present descriptions and explanations, drawing ideas, findings and viewpoints from sources, and using relevant terms and conventions (AC9HS5S07).
Year 6
Inquiry and skills
- Questioning and researching: develop questions to investigate people, events, developments, places and systems (AC9HS6S01); locate, collect and organise information and data from primary and secondary sources in a range of formats (AC9HS6S02).
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating: evaluate information and data in a range of formats to identify and describe patterns and trends, or to infer relationships (AC9HS6S03); evaluate primary and secondary sources to determine origin, purpose and perspectives (AC9HS6S04).
- Concluding and decision-making: develop evidence-based conclusions (AC9HS6S05); propose actions or responses to issues or challenges and use criteria to assess the possible effects (AC9HS6S06).
- Communicating: present descriptions and explanations, drawing ideas, findings and viewpoints from sources, and using relevant terms and conventions (AC9HS6S07).
