Mediating World War 1
Lesson Information:
Grade / Age Level
Yrs 11-12
Class Time
+5 class sessions
Products Used In This Lesson:
Applications
Outlook

Grade Level: Yrs 11-12 
Curriculum Connections: Modern History, English
Required Software: Microsoft® Outlook®,
What's in this Lesson:
Teacher Guide
Summary: In this lesson students assume the role of representatives from countries involved in War World 1.  Using email, students debate the issues surrounding the outbreak of World War 1 in an attempt to find a peaceful resolution.
Objectives: To introduce students to the concept of multimedia communication, to practice public speaking, and to introduce the technology that facilitates a public presentation.

Outcomes:

  • Plans a historical investigation, analyses and synthesises historical information from a variety of perspectives and presents the findings of the investigation
  • Communicates through well-structured texts to explain, argue, discuss, analyse and evaluate complex historical information, ideas and issues using appropriate written and oral forms
  • Examine the range of primary and secondary sources available to historians about World War I and its aftermath
Prerequisite Skills: Knowledge of Outlook express to send emails.
Time Allotted: 5+ sessions
How to Begin:

1.  Discuss and list the causes of World War 1 with the students. Assign each student a country which they are to represent. Using the Internet and other resource materials, ask students to investigate the role that their country was playing and the issues surrounding the lead up to the outbreak of WW1. Encourage the use of primary source materials as a means to gathering information as this type of material often contains clues to the feelings and sentiments of the nation at the time of publication.

2.  Set the scene. Tell  the students that we are going to bring WW1 into the new millennium by applying conflict resolution skills as currently used in today’s society. For example, if war were to break out today, representatives from the countries involved would have to present their cases to the united Nations to obtain a vote of support. What would the outcome of WW1 been had this strategy been utilised?

3.  Assuming the role of a national delegate from their chosen country, have students email each spokesperson stating their case their issues, concerns and sentiments regarding the issues surrounding the outbreak of WWI. A debate will ensue as each nation argues their perspective and tries to find a resolution to the issues. 

4.  Allow the students enough time to explore the issues and reply to each others emails. To conclude the activity ask the students to using the voting features in Microsoft Outlook to indicate the support of their nation in declaring war.

5.  Discuss the exercise with the students asking them if they feel that a peaceful resolution could have been possible had the countries discussed their thoughts 

Tip!  You may like to run this activity as a whole class debate or have separate issues being debated within smaller groups. Students could then present a summary of their debate and the conclusion reached.

Resources

School History - Causes of WW1

The causes of WW1

World War 1 - The causes and alliances

Causes of World War 1

Causes of World War 1 - The rise of Nationalism

Lectures for the History of World War 1

Student Activity
Description: In this activity, you will use Outlook Express to analyse and debate the issues surrounding the outbreak of World War 1 in an attempt to find a peaceful resolution.
Step A Discussing the issues
Software: Microsoft Outlook
What to do:
  1. There were several causes that led to the outbreak of World War 1. Discuss and list these with your teacher and classmates.
  2. Select a country that was involved in the crisis that led to World War 1. Using the internet, research how and why you chosen country was involved. Try and find primary sources to investigate as these sources are often full of bias and may give you further clues as to surrounding and underlying issues and sentiments.
  3. Imagine you are a delegate representing the country you have chosen. The International Peace Keeping Committee have requested that you present your case via email. You will have the opportunity to represent your nations concerns and will also be required to respond to the sentiments of other nations involved. 
Step B Voting in Outlook
Software: Outlook
What to do:
  1. Now that you have had the chance to present and respond to the issues raised through the email exercise, you will need to use the voting features of Outlook to indicate if you still intend on going to war. Lodge your vote and discuss the outcome with your class. Do you think that war could have been avoided? Could a more peaceful solution have been found?
  2. To lodge a vote via email:
  3. Open Outlook and select new mail message. Type in the addresses of all participating students or use a distribution list.
  4. Type in the question they have been debating eg. ‘Is your nation going to go to war?’
  5. Click on the Options icon. The following dialogue box opens:

  1. Select the Use Voting Button options. Drop down the menu and select yes/no.
  2. When each student gets the email they will be required to select either yes or no and the answer will come back to the teacher or a nominated student for tallying.
  3. For further tips and tricks for using email, utilise Microsoft Outlook Help.

 


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