This database includes articles, lesson plans and primary sources from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and our partners around the world, presented in collaboration with the United States World War One Centennial Commission. Be sure to join the mailing list to get updated content and resources every other month.
Do you have resources that you want to share or have questions? Contact us at education@theworldwar.org.
Teaching Resource Database
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The Two Lives of Eugene BullardAmerican Experience: The Great WarCreator: PBSEugene Bullard was one of many Americans who joined the Lafayette Escadrille, a French aerial squadron of mostly American volunteers; however, Bullard was the only African American. He served with distinction under the French flag, but was rejected from joining the American Air Service because of his race. This article written by Cori Brosnahan in conjunction with the PBS American Experience special The Great War explores the life of Eugene Bullard.Read Online |
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The History of the U.S. Air Service in World War ICreator: Mission Centenaire 14-18When the United States declared war on April 6, 1917 they were not prepared to fight and this included the relatively small air service. This English-language article written by Christoph Bergs with France's Mission Centenaire 14-18 explores how the U.S. Air Service started almost from scratch and became a contributor to the success of the American Expeditionary Forces.Read Online |
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6 Famous WWI Fighter AcesHistory StoriesCreator: HISTORY®To become an ace during World War I, a pilot had to shoot down five enemy planes. This article by Evan Andrews from HISTORY® explores six famous aces including the Red Baron and top American ace Eddie Rickenbacker.Read Online |
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Unmanned Drones Have Been Around Since World War IWorld War I: 100 Years LaterCreator: Smithsonian MagazineWhile drones may seem like a new phenomenon, the military began experimenting with unmanned aerial vehicles during World War I. This article by Jimmy Stamp from 2013 published in Smithsonian Magazine explores the first unmanned aerial prototype developed during the War: the "Kettering Bug."Read Online |
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Could you hack it in a World War One tank?BBC iWonderCreator: BBCExplore a British Mark I Tank with this online article written by historian William Philpott for BBC's iWonder guides. iWonder is an archived series of online articles from BBC, intended to provide "thought-provoking answers to fascinating questions sparked by BBC programmes, the news, anniversaries and world events." Each subject contains videos, infographics and articles, though video content is region-locked.View Online |
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Was the WWI U-boat a death trap?BBC iWonderCreator: BBCDelve into the world of WWI submarines with this online article by Matthew Seligmann for BBC's iWonder guides. iWonder is an archived series of online articles from BBC, intended to provide "thought-provoking answers to fascinating questions sparked by BBC programmes, the news, anniversaries and world events." Each subject contains videos, infographics and articles, though video content is region-locked.View Online |
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When Flyers FlewAnalyzing "The Flight of Flanders" PoemCreator: National WWI Museum and MemorialWhat was life like as an aviator in WWI? Why did flyers agree to take on such a dangerous job in the war? As middle school students review primary sources and analyze a poem written by a Royal Flying Corps pilot they’ll decide if flying was as glamorous as the media portrayed it to be.Download PDF |
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Atatürk and Women's Rights in TurkeyCreator: Stanford History Education GroupAfter leading Turkey to victory in its war of independence, Mustafa Kemal, known as Atatürk, pushed forward a series of reforms meant to modernize the new Turkish state. Among these was the granting of formal rights, such as suffrage and inheritance, to women. But did the extension of legal rights translate to real change? In this lesson, students read primary and secondary sources to answer the question: Did Atatürk's reforms actually improve the status of women in Turkey?Download Files |
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Female Spies in World War ITopics in Chronicling AmericaCreator: Library of CongressArticles from historic American newspapers document the coverage of women in espionage during the First World War. All the linked articles and many more are searchable via the Chronicling America: American Historic Newspapers digital collection.Explore Online |
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The Exotic Dancer Who Became WWI's Most Notorious SpyMata HariCreator: HISTORY®This online article by Evan Andrews for HISTORY® looks at the life and death of the infamous Mata Hari. The Dutch woman, born Margaretha Zelle, desired a life of adventure which led to an early marriage, divorce and time in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) before becoming a stage performer and self-described courtesan. While called "the greatest woman spy of the century," her actual espionage activities are unclear and sensationalized due to her persona and lifestyle. This article seeks to separate fact from fiction in Mata Hari's actions in World War I.Read Online |
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The Women Warriors of the Russian RevolutionCreator: Smithsonian MagazineSet against the backdrop of the February Revolution in Russia, this short article by Carolyn Harris for Smithsonian Magazine describes the creation of the Women's Battalion of Death. Under the command of experienced female soldier Maria Bochkareva, the Women's Battalion of Death was created in part to shame men into continuing to fight. While women's rights activists around the world applauded the female soldiers, they were unable to stop Russia from leaving the war.Read Online |
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The Story of the Female Yeomen during the First World WarCreator: National ArchivesAmerican women were not able to officially serve in the military until World War I, when a loophole allowed for women to join the Navy as Yeoman (F) - The F stood for female. These women did not fight overseas, but their work in administrative roles was vital to the war effort. To learn more about the Yeoman (F) read this article by Nathaniel Patch in the National Archives' Prologue Magazine.Read Online |
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World War I and AmericaAmerican Women at WarCreator: Library of AmericaThis initiative from Library of America explores the continuing relevance of World War I by reading, discussing, and sharing insights into the writings of Americans who experienced it firsthand. Divided into topics, including: Why Fight?, The Experience of War, Race and World War I, American Women at War, The Home Front, America on the World Stage, and Coming Home, each subject area has both PDF reading guides and videos (hosted on Vimeo) of modern authors and scholars reading selected writings from the time period. In American Women at War, students explore the literary works of three WWI era women and then answer the question "Does women's wartime service transform gender roles and expectations?"View Online |
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Home Before the Leaves Fall: The Great War 1914‑1918wwionline.orgCreator: Villanova UniversityCollaborative by design, Home Before the Leaves Fall is a multi-institutional project highlighting materials and resources on the Great War, with articles curated by individual scholars and experts guiding readers through the many threads that weave materials into a narrative tapestry; social media spotlighting newly digitized content, creative and educational use of materials; and news of other Great War commemorations.View Online |
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Russia Quits the WarWorld War: Choices and ConsequencesCreator: Facing History and OurselvesBy 1917, participation in World War I had resulted in disaster for the tsar's armies and government. The nation's casualties were much higher than those of any other country, and its economy was in shambles. Revolution soon followed, altering the course of the war. From Facing History and Ourselves, this article is part of a larger collection of readings that look into how WWI affected people's attitudes towards war and the value of human life.Read Online |
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about this project
The United States World War One Centennial Commission and the National World War I Museum and Memorial are dedicated to educating the public about the causes, events and consequences of the conflict and we encourage the use of these resources to better understand the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.
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