American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > A Local Look at World War I Through Artifacts

A Local Look at World War I Through Artifacts

Details

Author
Lisa West
Topic/Subject Area
Gender, Gender Roles, Women; Industry, Occupation, Work; Media, Periodicals, Communication; Military, Wars, Battles; Politics, Government, Law, Civics
Historical Era
Progressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928
Grade Level
Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Creation Date
2004
Last Revision Date
2024

Related items

About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

This activity is designed to give students an opportunity to use a local resource to take a virtual field trip and explore items from the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association collection. Students will understand that Americans participated in World War I directly as soldiers in the armed forces and as nurses, and indirectly, by supporting a variety of home front activities. Students will demonstrate proficiency in using websites to enhance their understanding of history by viewing historical artifacts. This activity is designed to help students understand that printed materials were the predominant means of communication during World War I and that the U.S. Government relied heavily on printed propaganda to gain public support and to encourage enlistment.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items
Website

Teaching Plan

  1. Students will have studied the “War in Europe” from its start (7-28-1914) through the United States entry (4-2-1917).
  2. As a class, students and teacher will access World War I on Teacher Oz. Scan down to “PROPAGANDA” and click on “American Posters of World War I.” Together the class will read the introduction. The class will view the posters and discuss the following questions: What themes do you note in the artwork? What themes do you note in the messages? How are Americans depicted? How are Germans depicted? Why are Liberty Bonds being promoted?
  3. Students will be divided into five groups. Students will access PVMA’s American Centuries website. Each group will access one of the following five items in the PVMA collection:
    1. “Allies, Arise!” – a piece of sheet music
    2. “More Power to the Allies” – an advertisement for gasoline
    3. “Keep them smiling” – WWI broadside
    4. Proclamation by the Governor of The Compulsory Work Law – a proclamation from the governor of Massachusetts titled “All Men Must Work”
    5. “Women and Girls Over 18” employment ad in Greenfield’s Gazette and Courier newspaper – an advertisement placed by the Greenfield Tap and Die Corporation seeking female employees
  4. Students will answer the following questions to evaluate these artifacts/documents:
    1. What are you viewing? Briefly identify and give a physical description of the item. Identify who would have seen this item originally and who may have created it. Identify where the item was made and used.
    2. Where would someone have originally seen this?
    3. When was the item made/used? Identify the date.
    4. For what purpose was this created?
    5. What is the significance of this item?
    6. Why are you viewing/studying it now?
  5. Each group will share their answers with the class for discussion.
  6. The students and teacher will then review the purpose of this activity and its relevance to their study of World War I and the American home front.