Age range 12+ How did the murder of one man, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, escalate into a global conflict that took the lives of more than 9 million soldiers and 7 million civilians? In World War I: The Great War to End All Wars, readers ages 12 to 15 learn about the events that led to the first battles of WWI all the way through the war’s final hours. This book asks readers to examine primary source stories, photographs, artwork, and literature produced by people involved in the war to explore a complete picture of a global conflict that still resonates around the world 100 years after it ended.
An interdisciplinary book for students ages 12 to 15 that delves into one of the most horrific periods in global history. An excellent roadmap for today’s political climate. The basic human losses of World War I can be made plain with these staggering casualties: 9 million dead soldiers, 7 million civilian lives lost, millions more wounded. But those numbers only hint at the devastation, both political and personal, that lies at the heart of the Great War. World War I: The Great War to End All Wars for ages 12 to 15 brings to light the key details of this critical point in history, which marked the transition to a modern era in which mass destruction became not only a possibility but a reality through military technologies a century in the making. By focusing not only on military life on the battlefields and in the trenches but also on anti-war protest movements, art and popular culture, home front efforts across the globe, and experiences in British and French colonies, this book offers a sense of how this war penetrated all corners of the world and impacted all of its peoples. Graphic novel-style illustrations, amazing historical photography, and primary sources bring the past to life and illustrate how far World War I reached around the globe.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, themes of "Time, Continuity, and Change," "Science, Technology, and Society," and global interconnectedness are key concepts that drive the narrative. This accessible, social history introduces the conflict from the varied perspectives of those who lived it. Profiled within its pages are improbable heroes, from volunteer, "Flying Aces" to a resistant Belgian king, from Native American soldiers who stymied Central Power intelligence officials to German artists who organized to demand "Never Again War." Projects include Research recruiting on the football and rugby pitch, Analyze the messages and the messengers, Discover satire in the pre-war years, and Colonial Cartography: The scramble for Africa. Aligns with Common Core state standards. Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. Essential questions guide readers’ investigations while hands-on activities promote critical and creative problem solving, and text-to-world connections highlight the way the past provides context for the present-day world.
