Objectives

• Describe how African-Americans helped the Allied cause during World War I.
• Describe the human costs of World War I.
• Describe what trench warfare was like during World War I.
• Gain experience at analyzing primary source documents.

Target Class
Grade:  Eighth
Subject:  American History
Age Level:  13 – 14 years old

Teaching Time Line
Three to four days.

New York State Learning Standards Addressed

Social Studies

• Standard 1—History of the United States and New York, Key Idea 2 , stating that “important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions from New York State and United States history illustrate the connections and interactions of people and events across time and from a variety of perspectives.”
• Standard 1—History of the United States and New York, Key Idea 3, stating that the “study of the major, social, political, cultural, and religious developments in world history involves learning about the important roles and contributions of individuals and groups.”
• Standard 1—History of the United States and New York, Key Idea 4 stating that “the skills of historical analysis include the ability to: explain the significance of historical evidence; weigh the importance, reliability, and viability of evidence; understand the concept of multiple causation; understand the importance of changing and competing interpretations of different historical developments.”

English Language Arts

• Standard 1: “Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.”
• Standard 3: “Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.”

Materials

1. Western Union Telegram sent by Hamilton Fish, Jr. to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on October 4, 1917.   From the National Archives and Records Administration Franklin D. Roosevelt Library.
2. Letter sent by Hamilton Fish, Jr. to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on January 1, 1918.  From the National Archives and Records Administration Franklin D. Roosevelt.
3. Letter sent by Hamilton Fish, Jr. to his father on April 8, 1918.  New York State Archives.
4. Letter sent by Hamilton Fish, Jr. to his family on May 1, 1918.  New York State Archives.
5. William Barker registration document.  New York State Archives.
6. Also used Hamilton Fish, Jr. biography and a movie entitled “Men of Bronze” from 1977.

Introduction | Lesson Plans

Objectives in PDF format (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)