World War One: propaganda and trench warfare
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why propaganda about World War One was so effective, and understand the differences between this wartime propaganda and the realities of trench warfare.
Key learning points
- Wartime propaganda was used to encourage recruitment and persuade the population that war was necessary.
- Wartime propaganda promoted the idea that fighting would bring glory upon soldiers.
- Much of World War One was fought in trenches.
- Conditions in trenches were appalling: the mud, rats, shelling, gore and inactivity traumatised many soldiers.
- Much war literature attempts to evoke conditions in the trenches.
Keywords
Propaganda - communication which is designed to influence its audience; the information is often misleading
Trench warfare - a type of war fought on land; deep ditches are dug and occupied by each warring side
Wilfred Owen - a British soldier and poet (1893-1918) best known for his poems about World War One
Symbolise - when something is used to represent something else; trench warfare has come to symbolise World War One
No man's land - the area of land between enemy trenches; a dangerous place where soldiers were often killed
Common misconception
Trench warfare was fighting characterised by intense and constant action.
Trench warfare was characterised by intense periods of action, but also long periods of inaction which could be demoralising, boring and harrowing.
Teacher tip
Consider that this lesson is about context, rather than detailed language analysis. Consider how long you wish to analyse and explore the selection of poems in each learning cycle: what is crucial, and what can pupils ignore for now.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of the story ‘Propping Up the Line’ by Ian Beck from the 2014 Orchard Books collection ‘Stories of World War One’ edited by Tom Bradman.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In the opening of Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line', how does Beck describe the trench in France, which is where much of the short story is set?
Q2.What are the dates for World War One?
Q3.The first line of Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line', sees Beck describe the main character, Alfred "sat cold and drowsily slumped against the wall".
Q4. What is the focus of Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line'?
Q5.When looking at literature about World War One, why might we often come across the name Wilfred Owen?
Q6.When looking at the literature of World War One, we might often come across the poetry of Wilfred Owen. Owen stated that he wrote to " " people about the horrors of war
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Much of World War One was fought in , deep ditches dug in the ground and occupied by opposing armies.
Q2.What is true of many of the trenches of World War One?
Q3. is the term used for communication which is designed to influence its audience; this information can often be misleading.
Q4.During World War One, the British government used propaganda. What did it hope to achieve through its use of propaganda?
Q5.Jessie Pope wrote a poem in 1915 to encourage people to sign up to the British Armed Forces. The poem is designed to make war seem exciting by comparing war to a "..."
Q6.Wilfred Owen wrote a poem called 'Exposure' detailing the realities of the trenches, particularly the agony of waiting for an attack. He repeats the line, "But happens."
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: World War One: propaganda and trench warfare, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: World War One: propaganda and trench warfare, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Literary perspectives from the First World War unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.