Tom Colella

Lesson Plan: World War I Propaganda and Technology

Length: 1 to 2 Days
9th Grade Modern World
I. Learning Objectives:
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Students will be able to compare the different techniques used in propaganda

during World War I
Students will be able to describe the effects of the propaganda on their own
lives and understand the effects it had on the lives of those in WWI
Students will be able to identify the notable weapons and vehicles used during
the war
Students will be able to compare the weapons used in WWI to those used
before

II. Instructional Materials:

-

Power Point
Propaganda Printouts
Technology Printouts
Gallery Worksheet

III. N.J. Core Curriculum Standards:

-

6.1.12.C.7.a
DeterminehowtechnologicaladvancementsaffectedthenatureofWorld
WarIonland,onwater,andintheair.
6.1.12.D.7.b
Determinetheextenttowhichpropaganda,themedia,andspecial
interestgroupsshapedAmericanpublicopinionandAmericanforeignpolicyduring
WorldWarI.

IV. Anticipatory Set: (5 minutes)

-

Students will review the material that was discussed in the last class including the
major events of the war, the major countries and players, and the technologies
used
Students will be given the Gallery worksheet and the directions will be explained

V. Procedure:
1) Power Point: (20 minutes)
After the group activity students will return to their seats to discuss the contents of
the gallery. The instructor will discuss several images in order to point out major
points and will ask additional questions to relate the material to the prior lesson

and the overall main idea of the World War I unit. The instructor will end the
lesson with videos demonstrating the changes in warfare in such a short period of
time including battle strategies, weapons, and technologies.
2) Handout:
Gallery Worksheet
Propaganda Homework
3) Video:
Battle of Bunker Hill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1o7BJ0Piu0
Battle of Waterloo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vlcuvrM1po
Trench Warfare - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXtsiqrhqsU
General Info on WWI - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-LxzD6Luj4
WWI Gun Demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2avjVPGfYY
4) Group Activity: (30 minutes)
There will be 12 propaganda posters and 8 technology images posted throughout
the classroom. Each poster and image will be labeled in accordance with the
Gallery Worksheet so that students can take notes as they circle the room.
Students will go around the room and look for certain aspects of each image
including its techniques, aspects, purposes, and effects. The instructor will go
around answering questions and pointing out major aspects to note for several
images. Students must complete the Worksheet by the end of the activity.
5) Questions:
Questions after Gallery Activity:
- What is different about these guns? What do you think is the result of these
changes?
- What effect do you think the tank had on soldiers, both friendly and enemy?
- What other technology was used more or for the first time that was not shown in
our gallery?
- What is different about these guns? What do you think is the result of these
changes?
- What effect do you think the tank had on soldiers, both friendly and enemy?
- What other technology was used more or for the first time that was not shown in
our gallery?
Questions on Worksheet (Propaganda)
- What do you see in this image? Is it portraying a country in a certain way
(positive, negative) or appealing to a certain group (men, women, a certain
nationality)? Is it asking the viewer to do a certain action? Is this image using a
real event or a fictional idea?

How does this image make you feel? How do you think it would make a friendly
viewer feel back then? How do you think it would make an enemy viewer feel
back then? Would this image be effective and why?
Questions on Worksheet (Technology)
- Describe the image in a few words. What is unique about it?
- If the image is a weapon what kind is it? What would its purpose be? How is it
different from weapons of the past?
- If the image is a vehicle what purpose would it have? How would it be effective
in battle? How do you think it works?
VI. Assessment (5 minutes)
-

Gallery Worksheets will be collected and checked for completion, quality, content
knowledge, and main idea understanding.
Students will create their own propaganda poster for homework to be completed
by next week.

VII. Extension
-

Students will understand that these images and weapons were crucial to the
decision to end the war before the killing got even worse.
Students will note how propaganda demonstrated the feelings of one country
towards another and understand that these feelings had impacts on the making of
the Treaty of Versailles.