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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Flanders Field American Cemetery AppCreator: American Battle Monuments CommissionFrom American Battle Monuments Commission, this app explores Flanders Field American Cemetery, where more than 300 Americans that gave their lives in World War I are buried. During the Ypres-Lys Campaign four American divisions fought alongside their Allied counterparts in Belgium and northeastern France, providing critical reinforcements to war-weary armies that had been fighting for four long years.Download App (for Apple devices), Download App (for Android devices) |
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Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery AppCreator: American Battle Monuments CommissionFrom American Battle Monuments Commission, this app explores the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, where more than 14,000 Americans that gave their lives in World War I are buried. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive is one of America’s most significant battles: 1.2 million Americans served during this 47 day offensive, with more than 26,000 killed and nearly 100,000 wounded. The strength and commitment to this offensive solidified America’s role on the world stage and helped bring an end to the war.Download App (for Android devices), Download App (for Apple devices) |
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World War I and AmericaWhy Fight?Creator: 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.View Online |
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President Wilson's Declaration of War Message to CongressApril 2, 1917Creator: National ArchivesOn April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson addressed a joint session of Congress requesting a declaration of war against Germany. The National Archives uses from its collection parts of the original address, a full transcript of Wilson's message, and the joint resolution from Congress formally declaring war on Germany for this resource.View Online |
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Mexico in WW1 - The Mexican RevolutionCreator: The Great War YouTube ChannelThis 9 1/2 minute video from The Great War Channel explains the internal struggles and revolution affecting neutral Mexico during World War I, and how Germany's stance against the United States brought Mexico into the international spotlight with the Zimmermann Telegram.Watch Online |
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18 Minutes That Shocked the WorldCreator: Imperial War MuseumsThis short article from the Imperial War Museums tells the story of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915. While the loss of life (nearly 1,200 deaths, including 128 American citizens, out of almost 2,000 passengers) is often cited as the cause for turning American sentiments against Germany in the war, IWM provides an overview of the complicated situation and why it should not be viewed as the sole, direct cause of America entering the war.Read Online |
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American Armies and Battlefields in EuropeHistoric Reference BookCreator: American Battle Monuments CommissionABMC was created in 1923 to manage the country’s overseas, World War I cemeteries and memorials, and part of the agency’s work included the writing and publishing of “American Armies and Battlefields in Europe: A History, Guide and Reference Book.” A massive undertaking at the time, this nearly 600 page book was first published in 1927 to commemorate America’s involvement into World War I.Download Full PDF (193 MB File), View Sections |
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The WWRite BlogExploring WWI’s Influence on Contemporary Writing and ScholarshipCreator: United States World War One Centennial CommissionThe purpose of this blog is to expand and modernize this complex space of memory by featuring today’s writers and scholars inspired by writing or events of WWI. As such contributions are such an invaluable learning resource, the blog also calls for students and teachers to participate by reading and responding to posts.Read Online |
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The USA Before Joining World War 1Creator: The Great War YouTube ChannelIn this 10-minute YouTube video, The Great War Channel explores the political, cultural, and social climate in the United States prior to their entry into World War I on April 6, 1917. Show host Indy Neidell narrates this overview of the Mexican Revolution, economic repercussions of the war, diplomatic responses, humanitarian efforts, and more.Watch Online |
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Chavaniac, We are Here!Creator: Département de la Haute-LoireThese documents, supported by the French Centennial commission, look at the U.S. entry to WWI and its continued impact through the specific story of Château de Chavaniac-Lafayette. Originally created for an exhibition, you can explore this history through panels written in French, or through an interpretive pamphlet with much of the same content in English.Download Pamphlet (pdf) in English/en anglais, Download Panels (pdf) in French/en français |
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Document Based QuestionUnited States Enters WWI: Weighing the Decision to Enter the WarCreator: National WWI Museum and MemorialThe United States’ decision to declare war on Germany in 1917 was not made lightly. While many citizens supported the declaration of war, there were many that stood opposed. These primary sources represent arguments made by both sides of the issue as the nation wrestled with a decision that would forever change the United States’ role in global affairs.Download PDF |
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World War ICreator: National History DayNational History Day developed a teacher resource to connect teachers and students to the best research and resources for teaching the 100th anniversary of World War I. NHD worked with partner organizations, including HISTORY®, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the National World War I Museum and Memorial, and Army, Naval, and Marine Corps historical organizations to find interesting, unique primary sources.Download Files |
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World War I DeclarationsTopics in Chronicling AmericaCreator: Library of CongressArticles from historical newspapers document the news coverage of many nations' declarations of war at the onset of the First World War.View Online |
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World War I: What Are We Fighting For Over There?Creator: Library of CongressThe Great War of 1914-1918 significantly shaped the course of the twentieth century, both at home and abroad. How can this pivotal event be personalized and brought to life for students in the new millennium? Students will use historical primary sources to explore different perspectives on American involvement in the First World War. What Are We Fighting For Over There? consists of three lessons which can be taught sequentially over the course of four weeks. It is also possible to use a single lesson if time constraints do not permit devoting four weeks to the study of World War I.Explore Online |
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WWI Maker ActivityLetter WritingCreator: Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-HIn a time before emails and text messages, soldiers in World War I relied on written letters to communicate with their loved ones back home. In these maker activities from the Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H, young students will learn more about the importance of communication for soldiers both past and present. With this activity, students are encourage to write letters to current service members.Letter Writing - Handout (PDF), The History Behind it, Writing (PDF), The Science Behind it, Communication (PDF), Letter from Harry Truman to Bess Wallace (Written) (PDF), Letter from Harry Truman to Bess Wallace (Transcribed) (PDF) |
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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.
Assisting in this endeavor are:
