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
 |
ZimmermannlandThe Southwestern Front of WWICreator: National WWI Museum and MemorialThe Zimmermann Telegram was a major factor in the U.S. decision to join the Allies in World War I. Using this lesson, students will analyze the context of the telegram from the perspectives of the U.S., Mexico, and Germany; examine the reaction in the Southwestern U.S. states that Germany promised to return to Mexico; and connect the Telegram's impact to today's U.S.-Mexico border issues.Download PDF, Download PPTx Companion Presentation |
 |
100 Years, 100 LegaciesThe Lasting Impact of WWICreator: Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal has collected a list of "100 legacies that still shape our lives today." From chemical warfare and guided missiles to blue doctors' scrubs and Pilates, the First World War created a lasting impact in some unexpected ways. Each topic is explained with a short article which includes photos and sources.Explore Online |
 |
The VolunteersAmericans Join World War I, 1914-1919Creator: AFS Intercultural ProgramsThis is a free curriculum aligned with U.S. Common Core and UNESCO Global Learning standards for secondary school classrooms worldwide. The 22 lesson plans examine the volunteer service of U.S. Americans, primarily serving during the period of U.S. neutrality in the War.Download Full Curriculum |
 |
Thinking Like a HistorianArtifacts and Trench TalesCreator: National WWI Museum and MemorialAs history becomes tangible, WWI will come alive in the classroom when students work with artifacts. Using their senses, observations, past knowledge and critical thinking skills students will learn to think like a historian to determine what historic artifacts can tell them about the past.Download PDF, Download Accompanying Powerpoint |
 |
Service and SacrificeQuentin Roosevelt's Ultimate SacrificeCreator: National WWI Museum and MemorialFormer U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt was a great supporter of American involvement in the Great War. While serving, his son Quentin was killed in action in 1918. His death had a profound effect on fellow soldiers, the nation, and especially his father. This lesson asks to high school students to interpret multiple primary source documents and artifacts to provide evidence of the realities of war.Download PDF |
 |
Devastation Wrought by U-Boats in World War IInteractive MapCreator: Smithsonian magazine, Esri, Li ZhouGermany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare, where U-boat submarines were used to sink both military and merchant ships without warning, was very controversial and provocative. Smithsonian magazine and GIS-mapping company Esri have created an interactive map of the attacks by German U-boats during WWI. The accompanying article by Li Zhou details Germany's decision to use this type of warfare and how it forever changed the rules of war.View Online |
 |
The Great War ChannelYouTube Video SeriesCreator: The Great War YouTube ChannelTHE GREAT WAR covers the events exactly 100 years ago: The story of World War I in realtime. Featuring: The unique archive material of British Pathé. Indy Neidell takes you on a journey into the past to show you what really happened and how it all could spiral into more than four years of dire war. New episodes every Thursday.Watch Online |
 |
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) |
 |
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) |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
Pages
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:
