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World War I
The American economy, society, politics, and participation in the Great War.
Planning this mini-unit
World War I is the second mini-unit of Unit 7: American Imperialism and World War I. This mini-unit is taught after “American Imperialism” (first mini-unit in Unit 7: American Imperialism and World War I) and before “The Roaring 1920s” (first mini-unit of Unit 8: Boom and Bust). Click 
HERE to get a copy of my pacing guide.
Pacing
Teachers should plan three to five days to teach this unit on a traditional schedule with one-hour class periods. However, for those on a block schedule with 1 1/2 hour classes, teachers should plan for 2-3 days. An effective way to structure this unit includes:
Openers
- Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
- American Neutrality
- Trench Warfare
- World War I Draft Registration
- The Fourteen Points
This FREE resource includes 5 openers to use in order to supplement this unit. Begin each class with an opener question. Opener questions can be found on this webpage as an image (see “opener questions” at the bottom of this webpage) or free on TpT (see link). Give students 3-5 minutes to complete the opener question and allow 5-10 minutes for class discussion. Instead of openers, teachers may use this as an end of class check for understanding.
see link). Give students 3-5 minutes to complete the opener question and allow 5-10 minutes for class discussion. Instead of openers, teachers may use this as an end of class check for understanding. 
Lessons
After the opener, begin the Google Slides lesson. Students can take notes on paper using the note-taking guide provided with the Google Slides lesson, or they may take notes digitally with the electronic version (also included with the Google Slides).
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- TEACHER TIP: I post a PDF version of the Google Slides to Google Classroom so that students can review their notes if they are absent. To do this, click “File, Download, PDF” on the Google Slide.
- TEACHER TIP: Some teachers post Google Slides in their Google Classroom and digital note-taking guides for students to complete as homework.
- TEACHER TIP: When pressed for time, I will edit the note-taking guides to include answers for some boxes or delete boxes and slides entirely. Teachers should feel free to modify the lesson to meet their students’ needs and individual learning targets.
- After teaching a concept, take a break from the lecture and show a quick review video to reinforce the concepts. Suggested videos to enhance the lesson are on this webpage.
- Mix up your unit by having the students complete the PROP (Point, Reason to lie or distort, Other sources, Public/private) analysis. For a free resource that reviews PROP, click HERE.
- TEACHER TIP: Group students together to complete this activity. This strategy sparks conversation and encourages critical analysis. Discussed as a class.
- Review additional suggested activities found on this webpage:
- FREE: Schenck v. The United States from the Bill of Rights Institute.
- FREE: Woodrow Wilson and the Espionage Act from the Bill of Rights Institute.
- FREE: Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles from the Bill of Rights Institute.
- FREE: Sedition in World War I from Stanford History Education Group.
- FREE: U.S. Entry into World War I from Stanford History Education Group.
- FREE: League of Nations from the Stanford History Education Group.
- Print the Prove It activity included in the Google Slides lesson at the end of the unit. Students read statements and determine if they are true or false. If the statement is false, they correct it. This lesson encourages students to review their note-taking guides.
key terms to know
People to Know
- Charles Schenck
- Woodrow Wilson
- Jeannette Rankin
- Eugene Debs
- General Pershing
Key Terms
- Militarism
- Alliances
- Imperialism
- Nationalism
- Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
- Trench Warfare
- Shell Shock
- War Bonds
- Selective Service Act
- Food Administration
- Fuel Administration
- War Industries Board
- Committee on Public Information
- Espionage and Sedition Acts
- Convoy System
- League of Nations
- 14 Points
Events
- Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Sinking of the Luisitania
- Sinking of the Sussex
- Russian Revolution
- Schenck v. the United States
- The Great Migration
- The Zimmerman Note
- Paris Peace Conference
Essential Questions
1. What events contributed to war erupting in Europe by 1914?
2. Why did America take a position of neutrality between 1914-April 1917?
3. What were the various contributing factors influencing America’s entry into World War I? Examine economic, political and social influences.
4. How did the American government change during World War I?
5. To what extent did World War I offer new opportunities for women and African Americans?
6. What was Wilson’s plan for peace at the conclusion o the war? Explore the various barriers to that plan.
47 Slides (editable) with graphic organizer note-taking guide and summative assessment worksheet. This Google Slides reviews the causes of World War I, how America responded to the war in Europe 1914-1917, how American society, politics and government transformed while engaged in the war and Wilson’s plan for peace.
This Google Slides:
- Editable
- Has checks for understanding/thinking questions throughout the Google Slides
- Interesting and varied graphic design
- A variety of different sources to catch your students’ attention and engage them with the content: maps, charts, primary sources, quotes, newspapers, etc.
- Major Concepts Reviewed:
- M.A.I.N causes of World War I: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism
- The war in Europe: Trench warfare, U-boats and mustard gas
- Shell Shock
- American Neutrality
- Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: sinking of the Lusitania and the Sussex
- Sussex Pledge
- Zimmermann Note
- Russian Revolution
- Different Perspectives on American Joining the War
- Selective Service Act
- Committee on Public Information and Propaganda
- Espionage and Sedition Act
- Eugene Debs
- Charles Schenck
- Changing Social Patterns: Women
- Female Activism
- Great Migration
- War Industry Board
- Food Administration
- Fuel Administration
- Winning the War: Convoy System and General Pershing
- Paris Peace Conference
- 14 Points
- League of Nations
Note-Taking Guide with a Teacher’s Key:
- Works with Google Classroom (students can type in a document, or handwrite)
- Includes ideas on how to use this in your lesson
- Great for IEP, 504, EL students or students who need modifications
- Helps students be accountable for information during lecture
- Comes with print and digital notetaking guides.
Post-Notes Analysis Worksheet with a Teacher’s Key:
- Works with Google Classroom (students can type in a document or handwrite)
- Includes ideas on how to use this in your lesson
- Has a True/False checking for understanding
- Includes a document that connects to information from the slides.
- Comes with print and digital post-notes analysis guides.
- Students are asked to ” Prove It,” “Analyze It” “Personalize It” and “Explore Limitations.”
Helpful Videos for Your Students
Unit Activities
Click on the images below to access these suggested resources
Woodrow Wilson and the Treaty of Versailles
Bill of Rights Institute
Woodrow Wilson and the Espionage Act
Bill of Rights Institute
Schenck v. United States
Bill of Rights Institute
League of Nations
SHEG: Stanford History Education Group
U.S. Entry into World War I
SHEG: Stanford History Education Group
Sedition in World War I
SHEG: Stanford History Education Group
quick links
hey there
Thank you for stopping by Teacher Bistro. I created this place as a resource for educators who wanted a easy way to find resources. In my first ten years of teaching I can’t tell you how many hours I spent gathering lesson plans, video guides and lectures. Hopefully, you have added this site to your bookmarks, and this place can make teaching a little bit easier.