Thursday, September 7th

Today you received a vocabulary list for the World War I unit with 24 terms.  I gave you the entire period to work on copying the definitions into your notebook.  Tomorrow you will finish your vocab and I will check your notebook for a grade.

Homework: Vocab (if not finished in class)

Friday, September 8th

Today, you learned about the causes of the war: Militarism, Alliance System, Imperialism, and Nationalism - "MAIN."  You also learned that countries allied to protect themselves against militarism from other countries and in order to keep imperial lands safe from conquest by other imperial countries, militarism grew. The example I presented at the end of class was that Serbia wanted to expand its borders, but Austria-Hungary (the imperial country) would not let them do that.

Homework: None

Wednesday, September 13th

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian man, Gavrilo Princip, was the main focus of today's lesson.  The background of the story is this: Austria-Hungary annexed areas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, that had a lot of Serbian people living there; these areas were also wanted by Serbia.  Princip assassinated Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, because they symbolized imperialism and he was a nationalist.  We took some brief notes on the assassination and the early battles of the war.

Homework: None

Thursday, September 14th & Friday, September 15th

Today, we began our first map assignment of the year.  I gave you a blank map of Europe and you were to label and color all items on the assignment sheet. The map on page 375 of your textbook has all of this information, but you can use other resources online to complete as well.   

Map on Pg. 375

Homework: World War I Map (if not handed in by end of class Friday)

Monday, September 18th

Today I introduced the concept of trench warfare.  We also spent some time talking about poison gas as a new weapon during the war.  Poison gas came in several forms.  Some was intended to choke victims, other forms burned your skin or blinded you.  A gas mask became a standard piece of military equipment issued to soldiers.  It caused so many casualties during the war, it was banned from combat after World War I.  After that, we read an excerpt from Mein Kampf, which was written by a man (Adolf Hitler) who was a soldier during the Great War. 

Homework: Write a letter as a soldier from the trenches to a family member back home describing what life in the trenches was like.  Minimum of 2 paragraphs - 5 sentences each

Tuesday, September 19th

Today we learned about weapons that were newly developed during WWI.  Specifically, you learned about machine guns, tanks, and airplanes.  We discussed some of the pros and cons to these weapons and how they were adapted/improved for use in war.  

Homework: Soldier Letter due Tomorrow!

Wednesday, September 20th

Today we finished the notes from yesterday about the new weapons used in the war.  We learned that submarines were mostly used by the Germans.  They adopted a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare and attempted to cut off the British supply line.  I also briefly mentioned flamethrowers, bayonets, grenades, and mortars.

Homework: None

Thursday, September 21st & Friday, September 22nd

Today we watched a documentary, The Armenian Genocide.  The purpose of showing the video was to inform you about the history of the Armenian people and what happened to them during WWI, specifically in 1915.  This disaster was the first genocide of the 20th century and over a million Armenians were killed at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.  Turkey, to this day, denies this "genocide" occurred--they admit there was a time when many Armenians died, but refuse to declare that they were responsible for it.  This topic is often overlooked, considering the Holocaust during WWII affected many more people. 

9/21 Class Recording

9/22 Class Recording

Homework: Worksheet if not finished in class

Monday, September 25th

Today we focused on propaganda during WWI in class.  Propaganda is an excellent way to evaluate how a nation functions during wartime.  From looking at propaganda posters, we can learn about how governments attempted to get men to join the army, women to work, and what to grow in gardens, what civilians should give up at home, and various other things.  We looked at various British propaganda posters and analyzed them, especially for any hidden meanings.

Homework: None

Tuesday, September 26th

Today we learned about the United States entering World War I in 1917.  The reasons for the U.S. entering the war included Trade, Propaganda, the Zimmerman Telegram, and Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.  We also looked at a few American propaganda posters, which portrayed the Germans as bad, barbaric, ape-like creatures.  We also learned about the German collapse and the end of the war, which was November 11, 1918 - now Veteran's Day.

Homework: None

Wednesday, September 27th

Today you completed a worksheet on worldwide fighting from a reading packet I gave you in class.  The text focused on battles on the Eastern Front and how the war affected other parts of the world besides Europe. 

Worldwide Fighting Reading Packet

Homework: Finish worksheet if not done in class

Thursday, September 28th

Today we learned about the different costs and effects of WWI.  Costs included human costs and economic costs, totaling $332 Billion.  Over 100 million people died, including soldiers and civilians, from battle and the spread of disease.  Fifteen new nations were also created following the war, mostly from areas that were part of the Soviet Union.  Allied leaders also met to discuss how to punish Germany for the war.

Homework: None

Monday, October 2nd

Today we discussed the Treaty of Versailles and what it required of Germany.  The Treaty severely punished Germany and required them to limit the size of their military, give up land for the creation of Poland, pay reparations, give up colonies around the world to other powers, take responsibility for the conflict, and return conquered land to Russia & France.  Other agreements included the Balfour Declaration, which called for the creation of Palestine and Transjordan.

Homework: Treaty of Versailles Writing Prompt 

Tuesday, October 3rd

Today we discussed the first Russian Revolution, which started during World War I in 1917.  To summarize the political upheaval, here is a simple summary for you:

Until March 1917, Russia was a monarchy headed last by Czar Nicholas II

First Revolution in March 1917

Between March & November 1917, a temporary government was put into place

Smaller revolution in November 1917, called the Bolshevik Revolution

At the end of 1917, civil war broke out. The Bolshevik "Red Army" vs. "White Army"

Late 1920, the Bolsheviks won the civil war.

By 1922, the country became communist and called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union.

Homework: None

Wednesday, October 4th

Today we looked at a smaller second revolution that occurred later in Russia during 1917.  This was known as the Bolshevik Revolution.  By the end of 1917, civil war broke out between the Bolshevik "Red Army" and the "White Army."  By late 1920, the Bolsheviks won and the country became a communist state by 1922, known as the USSR or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 

Homework: None

Tuesday, October 10th

Today, we played "Jeopardy" as a review for your World War I test tomorrow.  The class was divided into 4 teams and each team competed for points.  The winning team and scorekeeper will receive 5 points to be added to their tests and everyone else will get 2 points.

Homework: Study for Test!

Thursday, October 12th - October 19th 

Today we began a research project based on World War I.  In your group of two or by yourself you are to create a presentation based on one of the following topics: Life in the trenches, propaganda, war technology/weapons, submarine warfare/weapons, women in the war/women's peace party, liberty bonds, espionage act/spying/codes, Woodrow Wilson, John J. Pershing, David Lloyd George, George Clemenceau, Vladimir Lenin, Kaiser Wilhem II, or Czar Nicholas II. 

Homework: Projects due October 20th