Outfitting a World War I soldier: Teaching US history with primary sources

What do soldiers wear? Students will say a uniform and mention boots. However, many of the necessities of soldiers are often overlooked by civilians whether the items be standard issue or personal.This lesson gives students the opportunity to not only look at William B. Umstead's artifacts from World War I, but gain insight into how and why each item was used.

A lesson plan for grade 8 Social Studies

By Paulette Scott

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Related topics

• Learn more about American history, North Carolina, North Carolina history, World War I, artifacts, history, oral histories, social studies, soldiers, and weapons.

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Learning outcomes

Students will examine artifacts of a World War I soldier and gain insight to technological advances of the times. Students will analyze uses of the artifacts by completing an artifact analysis chart.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1 day

Materials/resources

• Tar Heel Junior Historian - “Kiffin Rockwell: Aristocrat of the Air” by Jerry L. Cross p.4-8
• “Technologies and the Weapons of War” by A. Torrey McClain p.25-30
• Chronology of William B. Umstead 1895-1954
• “Outfitting a Soldier”: Images and descriptions of William B. Umstead’s equipment and personal effects

Technology resources

• LCD projector
• Internet access
• Computer lab

Pre-activities

Causes of WW I
Why the US became involved
Life on the homefront - which would give an account of support by civilians
Technological advances prior to and during WW I

Activities

1. Students will read articles from the Tar Heel Junior Historian.
2. The teacher will divide students into groups of four and have them brainstorm a soldier’s needs during WW I.
3. Each group will share their ideas with the class.
4. The teacher will tell students that they will log on to a website that will show them artifacts of a WW I soldier from NC
5. The teacher will share information about the life of William B. Umstead (best to show on LCD)
6. Students will log on to the appropriate website in order to fill in artifact analysis chart

Assessment

Student responses on artifact analysis chart

Supplemental information

Visuals from “Outfitting a Soldier” can be enlarged
NC Museum of History (for Tar Heel Junior Historian)
NC Office of Archives and History (Publications 2003 include: Memories of WW I:NC Doughboys on the Western Front by R.Jackson Marshall and North Carolina’s Role in the First World War by Sarah McCulloh Lemmon)
From Docsouth: background information on Kiffin Rockwell (p.150-152) and James R. McConnell

Comments

As a teacher you will need to decide what to include in lessons on World War I. Use of Docsouth can provide you with a wealth of material. What is available to you ranges from diaries, letters, and music to technology. It is best for the teacher to view the websites so that you can better direct your students. The information available would also be useful in planning learning stations related to WW I.