Contextualization
World War I, also known as the Great War, was a fundamental global conflict that took place between 1914 and 1918, involving many of the major global powers of the time. Beginning in Europe, the conflict quickly expanded, incorporating parts of Africa and Asia. This was a significant milestone in modern history, shaping the contemporary world in profound and lasting ways.
This conflict was the first to be characterized by the widespread use of modern technology in warfare, resulting in an unprecedented number of casualties. The war also brought about significant changes in the nations involved, leading to the end of empires, revolutions, and the emergence of new forms of government.
It is of fundamental importance to understand the Great War both for the changes it brought about and for the seeds it planted, which would manifest in an even more dramatic and terrible way in World War II. Studying this conflict allows us to reflect on the causes and effects of war, the nature of international politics, and humanity in times of crisis.
Due to its importance, it is crucial that we study World War I not only to understand this particular period but also to comprehend the broader dynamics of the modern world. Among the main issues we should explore are the causes of the war, the key actors involved, the strategies and tactics used, the consequences for the warring nations and other nations, and how this conflict influenced subsequent history.
Here are some resources you can use to explore these issues:
Practical Activity
Title:
"Reliving World War I: A Board Game"
Project Objective:
Create an educational board game based on the events of World War I, addressing the key actors, causes, strategies, and consequences of the war.
Detailed Project Description:
In this activity, students will work in groups of 3 to 5 people to create a board game that illustrates the events of World War I. The game should be designed to educate players about the war, presenting the political, economic, and military situations that arose during the conflict. Each group will be responsible for the entire game creation process, including research, design, rule creation, board and piece production, and writing the game manual.
Required Materials:
- Cardboard or cardstock
- Pens, colored pencils, markers
- Scissors
- Glue
- Printed images (optional)
- Dice (or some other element of chance)
Step by Step:
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Research: Each group should start by researching World War I, focusing on the causes, key actors, strategies, and consequences of the war. Research should be done using History books, reliable websites, videos, documentaries, etc.
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Planning: After the research, the group should brainstorm and decide how to represent the war in a board game. Additionally, they should decide on the game rules and how to win.
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Design: Next, the group should draw the board and game pieces. The board should represent the geopolitical scenario of the time, and the pieces should represent the key actors of the war.
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Assembly: After drawing the board and pieces, the group should cut and assemble the pieces. If necessary, use glue to reinforce the durability of the pieces.
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Manual: Finally, the group should create a game manual, explaining the rules and how to win.
At the end of the practical activity, students should present the game to the class, explaining all its creation steps and the game rules.
The conclusion of the activity will be the submission of a written report (minimum of 5 pages) containing: an introduction contextualizing World War I, a detailed description of all project creation steps, conclusions about the learning obtained from the project, and the bibliography used for research.
The game presentation and the report will be used to evaluate the project. This work must be submitted by the end of next week, providing a seven-day period for the project completion.
