Contextualization

The First World War, also known as the Great War, was a conflict that took place between 1914 and 1918 and involved many of the major global powers of the time. It was marked by the use of new technologies, trenches, and the death of millions of people.

This crucial period of world history not only led to significant changes in international policies and country borders, but also caused major social and cultural changes. This war became a turning point in human history, where nations realized the serious cost of large-scale war.

The First World War is an important study to better understand the political and social scenario that led to the Second World War and the world as we know it today. The role of individuals, the decisions made by leaders, and the consequences of their actions had a lasting impact that is still felt and studied to this day.

By understanding the First World War, we can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of capitalism and its crises, global conflicts, and the significance of the Russian Revolution. It also allows us to understand the causes and consequences of major conflicts and the global economy.

To delve deeper into the study of the First World War, I recommend the following resources:

• The book "The First World War - John Keegan" (https://www.amazon.com.br/Primeira-Guerra-Mundial-John-Keegan/dp/8501402192). Keegan, a respected military historian, provides a detailed analysis of the conflict.
• The documentary series "Apocalypse: World War I" available on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-RXZSddiu0&list=PLJkO01Wr3oaUPYLbM2hJcUrKnjjbbSs3R&index=1).
• The BBC website about the First World War (https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/) which contains articles, primary sources, videos, and interactive games.

Practical Activity: "Remembering to Not Repeat: Recreating the First World War"

Project Objectives

The objective of this project is to allow students to understand, collaboratively and practically, the motivations, dynamics, and impacts of the First World War. Through this project, students will have the opportunity to develop collaboration skills, time management, problem-solving, critical thinking, among others.

Project Description

Student groups (3 to 5 students per group) will be responsible for recreating the main events and dynamics of the First World War. Each group will be assigned a country to represent in the conflict (France, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, Germany, or Austria-Hungary) and should investigate its position, motivations, and actions during the war, as well as understand the global dynamics that led to this conflict.

Students should recreate, through a symbolic map/tableau, the progression of the war, demonstrating the main battles, troop movements, alliances formed, and the outcomes of these actions, both locally and globally. In addition, students should also keep a logbook, written from the perspective of the leader of the country they are representing, describing and explaining the decisions made and the reasons behind them.

Required Materials

• Materials for creating the map/tableau (cardboard, colored paper, colored pens, acrylic paint, etc.)
• Computer or tablet with internet access for research.

Step by Step

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Assign each group a country to represent in the First World War.
3. The groups should research the country they are representing, focusing on its motivations and actions during the war.
4. Based on the research, the groups should create a symbolic map/tableau of the First World War, representing aspects such as the main battles, troop movements, and alliances formed.
5. Students should also write a logbook, from the perspective of their country's leader, explaining the decisions made during the war and the reasons behind them.

Project Delivery

Student groups will present their maps/tableaus and logbooks to the class, explaining the main events of the war, the decisions made by the countries, and the effects of these actions.

After that, each group of students must write a report on the project, following the maximum topics of: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used. In the development, students should explain the theory behind the causes of the First World War, present in detail the activity they carried out, explain the methodology used, and discuss the results obtained; and in the conclusion, they should summarize their main points, explain the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn from the project. The bibliography, finally, will serve to indicate the sources they used to work on the project.

The final project deliverables are:

1. Presentation of the map/tableau and logbook representing the main events of the First World War, capturing the causes, alliances formed, troop movements, and major battles.
2. A detailed written report on the project, identifying and discussing the lessons learned and conclusions drawn from the activity.