Investigating the Australian Experience of World War I (1914-1918)

This resource focuses on Depth Study 3: 'World War I (1914–1918)', which is part of the Australian Curriculum for Year 9 History.

The Year 9 curriculum provides a study of the history of the making of the modern world from 1750 to 1918. It was a period of industrialisation and rapid change in the ways people lived, worked and thought. It was an era of nationalism and imperialism, and the colonisation of Australia was part of the expansion of European power. The period culminated in World War I, 1914–1918, the 'war to end all wars'.

Content:

• A Starting Point Today
• Going to War
• Fighting the War
• German New Guinea
• Gallipoli
• The Western Front
• Sinai and Palestine
• Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps
• The War at Home
• Government Powers and Roles
• Women and the War
• Other Impacts of the War
• Conscription Issue
• Local Communities
• After the War
• The Battles After the War
• Remembering and Commemorating

Features:

• Two booklets (Part 1: 64 pages; Part 2: 68 pages), full colour, professionally printed and trimmed
• Over fifty classroom activities using a rich variety of resources: Photographs, paintings, documents, charts, tables, diagrams, maps, soldiers' words, 'faked' photographs, powerful propaganda posters and emotional conscription appeals.

Curriculum Links:

Investigating the Australian Experience of World War I (1914–1918) is designed to achieve the knowledge, understanding, historical skills and understanding of key concepts required in the History curriculum documents for Year 9 Depth Study 3 for:

• An overview of the causes of World War I and the reasons why men enlisted to fight in the war (ACDSEH021)
• The places where Australians fought and the nature of warfare during World War I, including the Gallipoli campaign (ACDSEH095)
• The impact of World War I, with a particular emphasis on Australia including the changing role of women (ACDSEH096)
• The commemoration of World War I, including debates about the nature and significance of the Anzac legend (ACDSEH097)

This practical, classroom-ready resource can engage students in the drama, passion and devastation of the war, and develop their knowledge and understanding of, and empathy with, the people of the time and their war experiences – all while developing their historical skills.