This digital unit plan focuses on teaching 10th grade world history students about World War 1. The unit goals are to understand how to prevent future human rights violations and genocide, why WWI was called "the war to end all wars", and how propaganda was used. Lessons include lectures, online research, timelines, and presentations. Formative assessments track student understanding, like timelines of key events in the Russian Revolution. The summative assessment is a presentation on human rights violations in WWI. Students will analyze causes of WWI, turning points like trench warfare, and how the Russian Revolution and US entry impacted outcomes.

1. Digital Unit Plan Template
Unit Title: The First World War Name: Steven Strawn
Content Area: World History Grade Level: 10
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):
10.5 Students analyze the causes and course of the First World War.
1. Analyze the arguments for entering into war presented by leaders from all sides of the Great War and the role of political and economic rivalries,
ethnic and ideological conflicts, domestic discontent and disorder, and propaganda and nationalism in mobilizing the civilian population in support of
"total war."
2. Examine the principal theaters of battle, major turning points, and the importance of geographic factors in military decisions and outcomes (e.g.,
topography, waterways, distance, climate).
3. Explain how the Russian Revolution and the entry of the United States affected the course and outcome of the war.
4. Understand the nature of the war and its human costs (military and civilian) on all sides of the conflict, including how colonial peoples contributed to
the war effort.
5. Discuss human rights violations and genocide, including the Ottoman government's actions against Armenian citizens
Big Ideas/Unit Goals:
Big Ideas:
• How we prevent future human rights violations and genocide?
• Why was the First World War often referred to as “The war to end Wars”?
• How was propaganda used throughout the war and was it effective?
21st Century Skills:
• Students will work in groups to conduct research online.
• Students will use google slides to create a presentation trench warfare.
• Students will use and strengthen critical thinking skills to formulate answers to the Big Ideas Questions.
Unit Summary:
The Amount of technology developed, and trench warfare has always been interesting and exciting to learn about. I also believe that it is an important
topic to know and understand because it is a huge turning point and effects of this war can be traced back to the causes of World War II. In this unit
students will explore many different aspects of the Great War, including human rights violations. They will also utilize 21st centry skills to compile and
present evidence to demonstrate the understanding of what they will learn. This unit will also include activity's that will encourage creativity and create
a fun environment for more successful learning, such as the propaganda comic strip and the timeline.
Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level:
1.
Brainstorm- Why was the first
Formative:
1. Timeline- chronological order of
important events related to the
Russian Revolution.
Summative:
1. Presentation- Human rights
violations in the First World War.

2. world war so impactful in the 20th
century?
2. Kahoot- World History: World
War I
3. Propaganda comic strip- create
a political comic for a country
involved in the first world war.
4. Quizlet- Important facts to know
about the first world war
How you prevent future
violations?
2. Unit Exam- a mix of multiple
choice, matching, and short
answer question.
Lesson 1 (Teacher Lecture)
Student Learning Objective:
Students will be able to
discuss and analyze human
rights violations such
associated with the Armenian
genocide.
Acceptable Evidence
(Assessments): Students will
be assessed by their creation
of a short presentation on
human rights violations of the
First World War.
Lesson Activities:
• Students will complete guided notes to help identify and reinforce key points learned in the
lecture.
• Students will create a short presentation showing evidence of human rights violations during the
First world war and offer ideas for solutions to prevent any future human rights violations.
Lesson 2 (Webercise/ iPad Lesson)
Student Learning Objective:
Students will be able to
explain how the Russian
Revolution and the entry of
the United States affected the
course and outcome of the
war.
Acceptable Evidence:
Students will complete a
timeline placing evidence of
important events in
chronological order that
occurred during the Russian
Revolution.
Lesson Activities:
• Students will use internet capable devices to explore pre-selected website and watch videos that
provide information on the events of the Russian revolution.
• Students will use information gathered from the lesson to create a digital timeline of the Russian
Revolution and its impact in the First World Wat in chronological order.
Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)
Student Learning Objective:
Students will be able to
identify major turning points,
and the importance of
geographic factors in military
decisions and outcomes.
Acceptable Evidence:
Students will create a graphic
organizer compiling
information about Turing
points in World War One
regarding trench warfare and
technological advancements
like tanks.
Lesson Activities:
• Students will create a graphic organizer throughout the lesson that will organize important
information that will be useful on the unit exam.
Unit Resources:
Ipad/laptop, Internet access, pencils and pens, headphones (for watching videos), paper.
Useful Websites:
Life in the Trenches Russian Revolution
Armenian Genocide WW1 Simple history video- part one
Khan Academy WW1 WW1 Simple history video- part 2