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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how local communities contributed towards the effort made on the Home Front during WWI.

      Key learning points

      1. Different towns, villages and areas helped to support the war effort by making certain things.
      2. Historical buildings in pupils’ local areas may have been used to help support the war effort.
      3. Streets and roads are often named after people who made a significant contribution to the war effort in some way.
      4. The older generations within pupils’ families might have played a role in supporting the war effort on the Home Front.

      Keywords

      • Produce - produce is something that people have made, created or grown; it also means to make something

      • Materiel - military equipment used for war is called materiel

      • Contribution - a contribution is the part that people play in supporting something with either time or money

      Common misconception

      Only people who were killed in WWI are remembered by street names and buildings.

      Many people made a significant contribution to WWI in their local area and are remembered for this with street names and buildings.

      Teacher tip

      Your local area will be a valuable source of evidence for this lesson. Therefore an exploration of the history of local buildings, street names, individuals and groups that are linked to the First World War will be helpful.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      The contributions that civilians made to the war effort took place on the front?

      Correct Answer: home, Home

      Q2.
      There were of food items such as bread and potatoes during WWI.

      Correct Answer: shortages, Shortages

      Q3.
      Which of these roles did women NOT take on in WWI?

      farmers
      factory workers
      Correct answer: soldiers
      bus and tram conductors
      nurses

      Q4.
      Match the keywords to the correct definitions.

      Correct Answer:No Man's Land,land in between the defensive trenches of rival armies

      land in between the defensive trenches of rival armies

      Correct Answer:memorial,something to honour those who have lost their lives

      something to honour those who have lost their lives

      Correct Answer:Victoria Cross ,an award given to soldiers for acts of extreme bravery

      an award given to soldiers for acts of extreme bravery

      Correct Answer:allies,countries who support each other during times of war

      countries who support each other during times of war

      Q5.
      Which statement is NOT true?

      Before WWI, some women had joined groups to campaign for women's right to vote.
      Some women were in paid employment before WWI.
      Correct answer: Women were paid the same as men for the work they did in WWI.
      Women had shown they work as well as men.
      Some women were given the right to vote in 1918.

      Q6.
      Put these events into the correct order, starting with the earliest.

      1 - Start of WWI
      2 - The Battle of the Somme
      3 - The Representation of the People Act
      4 - End of WWI

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the word to its definition.

      Correct Answer:produce ,something that people have made, created or grown

      something that people have made, created or grown

      Correct Answer:contribution ,the part that people play in supporting with either time or money

      the part that people play in supporting with either time or money

      Correct Answer:materiel,military equipment used for war

      military equipment used for war

      Q2.
      Match the produce to the workers who produced it.

      Correct Answer:Steel helmets,Steel workers in Sheffield

      Steel workers in Sheffield

      Correct Answer:Tungsten,Miners in Cumbria

      Miners in Cumbria

      Correct Answer:Munitions,Female factory workers

      Female factory workers

      Correct Answer:Farm produce,Land girls

      Land girls

      Q3.
      Cavell Avenue is named after a nurse in WWI called Cavell.

      Correct Answer: Edith , edith

      Q4.
      The Scouts and the Girl Guides made no contribution to WWI.

      True
      Correct answer: False

      Q5.
      William Tritton and his team invented and produced the first ever ...

      Correct Answer: tank, Tank

      Q6.
      Which of the following are ways that people are remembered for their contributions during WWI?

      Correct answer: Buildings are named after them.
      Battles are named after them.
      Correct answer: Plaques commemorate them.
      Correct answer: Streets are named after them.

      To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: Local communities and the Great War, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...