You ate what??

After reading the novel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, students will use primary sources to relate Paul's experience to the life of a North Carolina soldier. Students will create their own primary source journal entry.

A lesson plan for grade 10 English Language Arts

By Kari Siko

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• Letters back home: A soldier's perspective on World War I: World War I traumatized many of the soldiers that participated in the war. It had a lasting effect on the political, economic, social, and cultural lives of Americans during the 1920's. By reading letters that one soldier wrote to his family back home. Students can gain insight into the reasons why the “Great War” had such a profound impact on the United States in years following the war.

Related topics

• Learn more about All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque, World War I, history, language arts, oral histories, rations, soldiers, and war.

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Learning outcomes

Students will use primary sources to better understand the life of a soldier during World War One.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 days

Materials/resources

• Blank paper and writing utensils
• Magazines and/or photos from home for use in illustrating journal entry

Technology resources

Computers with internet access for each student

Pre-activities

Students should have completely read the novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.

Activities

1. Have students locate and reread a section of the novel dealing with food, how the soldiers ate, rations, etc. There are examples in chapters 1, 3, 6, and elsewhere throughout the book.
2. Using the computer, have students access the Mess Kit, Canteen and Knife photos. Students should record their observations about the pictures on paper.
3. Have students read the October 6, 1917 entry from William Bradley Umstead’s Diary on dealing with “mess” and record their observations on paper.
4. As a class, discuss what it was like to be a soldier during World War One. Example Discussion Questions:
   • What did soldiers eat on a daily basis?
   • How did this food affect them?
   • What special treats were soldiers able to give themselves during the war?
   • How did these treats affect them?
   • Would you have survived eating the food that the WWI soldiers ate?
5. After previewing the primary source documents and discussing what soldiers ate during the war, have students reflect upon what they eat in their everyday life. Have students create a journal entry of their day, focusing on food. Pictures to illustrate their ideas should be included in the journal.

Assessment

Students should be assessed on participation in activities.

A final assessment can be given on the completeness of the journal entry.

Supplemental information

Comments

This lesson is an extension of the novel, but could be used as a stand alone lesson.