So you want to teach your little darlings about the First World War. Well, one does not enter into a war lightly or unprepared. A little reconnaissance is needed. Supplies must be gathered. Training must take place. This is war!
How do I prepare myself for war? First, you must understand, this is total war. It's not just history. It's math. It's science. It's literature. It's home economics. It's physical education. Yes, that's right. I said physical education. Ever hear of forced marches? Strap on your kit, and I'll tell you how to prepare yourself for the siege.
When preparing for total war, you have two new best friends: your computer and your librarian. You will need to utilize these tools to their maximum capacity. Yahoo and Google will cry for mercy when you're finished with them.
Start with a general search. I Googled World War I. These are some general, all purpose sites I found...
http://www.worldwar1.com/
http://www.firstworldwar.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/
Their are thousands of other sites, but these will do for now. I spend my leisure hours (between midnight and 2am) going through these sites. I find that the PBS site is a companion site to a video series, "The Great War" and that leads me to the library. I bribe my lovely librarian (chocolate works!) to ensure that the video will be in on time. I love my librarians.
While I am at the library, I search for books and other videos on the First World War. I find some and put holds on others. I ask my librarian for other ideas. She suggests that I search specific subject areas (i.e. science + WW1, literature + WW1, etc.). I kiss her feet and then search as directed. I leave with two bags full, and I return home to my computer and search some more. Here are some of my finds...
Science:
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/nov2003.html
(Work on drugs during WW1 saved countless lives in WW2!)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,711767,00.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195168747
(I didn't buy it, but I requested it from the library. However, it looks like a good one to own!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_during_World_War_I
http://www.ivanhoe.com/science/story/2005/12/79si.html
(Did you know that the earliest chemotherapy drug was produced from mustard gas?!)
Okay, you get the idea. The subjects of my searches were Science + WW1 and Science Innovations + WW1. You could use other searches to find more (medicine + WW1, aeronautics + WW1, etc.). The possibilities are mind boggling.
Now, do the same for other subjects. I searched for WW1 + literature, food, health, geography, time line, politics, languages, maps and I don't remember what else. When I came across a book that looked good, I stocked up on chocolate and headed to the library.
The key to a successful foray into history is preparation, and also an understanding that everything is history. A periodic table of elements didn't just appear in space. Someone discovered an element and made history. L.M. Montgomery didn't just think up Rilla of Ingleside one day after eating too much cheesecake. She lived through the First World War and decided to write a story based on events in history. Reading fictional works set in an historical setting is still learning about history. You don't have to tie yourself to a textbook. History is everything. When preparing to teach history, don't forget that everything is fair game. Connecting the dots between traditional subjects is what makes history fascinating. Names and dates can be important, but they are not the sum total of an event.
You have your marching orders, now hop to it soldier. Total history is upon us and we must prepare. Research is our finest weapon in the battle to make history interesting and fun!
LA Sue
(More on my family's WWI studies coming soon.)
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