World War 1 Map Activity
The student interest soars through the roof when they are able to go “hands on” in regard to these simulations.
Bobby Cook - Lawton Public Schools, Lawton, OK
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Bring the Great War to Life: Interactive World War 1 Classroom Simulation
Stop lecturing and start simulating. Give your students hands-on experience with European alliances, industrial mobilization, and strategic decision-making.
Why Teachers Choose the WWI Simulation Bundle:
Zero-Prep & Turnkey: Fully ready for physical classrooms or Google Classroom deployment with complete slide decks and student journals.
Active Engagement: Students stop memorizing dates and start experiencing the economic, geographic, and political pressures of 1914 firsthand.
Comprehensive Package: Includes multi-day simulation rules, printable/digital strategy maps, role-playing guidelines, and automated battle calculators.
Interactive Simulations
As a teacher, you know how hard it can be to get your students engaged in lessons. You might hear students complain about why they have to learn about history or how they are supposed to remember all the names, dates, and events in history.
An interactive simulation can help with this. Physical activities in the classroom often bridge the gap in students’ minds from listening to abstract lectures to actually engaging and retaining the material being taught.
World War 1 is a major event in world history, and students need to understand the events leading up to the war, as well as the events that took place during and after the war.
Some students may benefit from seeing the map of the world during this time and the color-coded countries, indicating the Allies from the Central Powers. Other students will benefit from the presentations that are included in the World War 1 Activity Bundle that detail the points before, during, and after the war.
Whether you teach in a private or public school or you homeschool your own children, WW1 map activities can be helpful to further your students’ understanding of this important part of history. For more information about our World War 1 map activity and other World War 1 resources, visit our resources page.
Are you looking for an interactive and engaging World War 1 Simulation for the classroom? Instead of lecturing to students about the Great War, engage students with this interactive activity.
Objectives
-Background of the countries involved in the war.
-The role alliances played in drawing multiple countries into the conflict.
-How Mobilization escalated tensions in Europe
-The affects of fighting a two front war.
-The advantage of the Allies Navy
-Students will develop a sense of Nationalism for their countries.
The World War 1 Simulation & Activity Bundle includes the following comprehensive resources designed for classroom deployment:
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World War 1 Simulation & Lesson Plan: A multi-day interactive strategic game where students take on the roles of major European powers, manage industrial and military resources, and navigate the complex web of alliances.
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Student Orientation Presentations: Customizable Keynote and PowerPoint slide decks designed to introduce the simulation rules, objectives, and mechanics at a pace that fits your classroom schedule.
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Tactical Strategy Maps: Detailed printable and digital maps of Europe highlighting the Allied and Central Powers, designed for hands-on student planning and movement tracking.
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Student Operations Manuals & Handouts: Step-by-step instructions, role-playing guidelines, and tracking journals that keep students accountable and immersed in gameplay.
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Battle Calculators & Game Tools: Automated spreadsheet and online system tools used to resolve land and sea battles, artillery strikes, and strategic resource production.
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Historical Presentation Slide Decks: Comprehensive slide decks covering the historical context leading up to the Great War, wartime developments, and the post-war treaties and aftermath.
Online Learning Ready! We have created new systems, that will allow the teacher and students to be at their homes and conduct the simulation efficiently. Access to these tools are included. With ever changing conditions for our schools, having an online option gives the teacher and students great flexibility!
Google Classroom Ready
The Sequence of the Game
1913 Day 1
On day one of the simulation, the teacher introduces the simulation and goes through the Student Orientation Video or uses the Power Point / Keynote Presentations.
Next, the teacher will read and explain the following documents:
-Student Overview
-World Situation Summary
Then the teacher announces a "News Flash" coming across the wire: The Archduke of Austria-Hungary and his wife have been assassinated in Sarajevo!
Tensions begin to mount as the teacher directs the leaders of Austria-Hungary and Serbia to write speeches that will be read at the beginning of the next class (1914). The remainder of the period sees a flood of negotiations and diplomacy as leaders of the alliances meet and discuss the crisis.
WWI Specialized Products
With modified instructions and simplified terminology, the adapted version gives elementary students the opportunity to engage this great conflict in new and challenging ways.
Great program
11/04/2014
My children had asked why we never see much on WWI, then I found this program. It was a great way to teach them. Not only does it give them the history lesson but it allowed them to experience the war. This is a great addition to any curriculum.
1914 Day 2
Speeches
On day two, Austria-Hungary and Serbia start the class by reading their speeches in relation to the assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary.
Mobilization
Next, the teacher asks if any countries would like to mobilize their armies. As students begin to raise their hands they take note of whether their neighbors are mobilizing or not and they can see each country's armies getting bigger on the map.
WAR!
Negotiations among and between the alliances start to get more intense. The Central Powers go first and so it's up to them to declare war or move their armies into position. After they have finished all of their battles they will go into movement. This is where you can move any army or navy forces you did not use during the war phase.
Transition To a Student Led Activity
1914-1918 Day 2-6
At this point, you are managing the map and students are driving the simulation through their objectives
Your students will take the roles of Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tsar Nicholas and many others. Most importantly, your students will get excited about The Great War and want to learn more!
- Form Alliances
- Conduct Diplomacy
- Negotiate Deals
- Strategic Thinking
- Problem Solve
- Critical Thinking
Click To Download
Tutorials
WW1 Simulation Preview
Student Simulation Tutorial
Online Teacher Tutorial
Additional Information
National Standards
Era 8- A half century of crisis and achievement, 1900-1945
World History Content Standards
Standard 2: The causes and global consequences of World War I
Standard 2A: The student understands the causes of World War I
Therefore, the student is able to:
Analyze the relative importance of economic and political rivalries, ethnic and ideological conflicts, militarism, and imperialism as underlying causes of the war. (analyze multiple causation)
Analyze the precipitating causes of the war and the factors that produced military stalemate. (analyze cause-and-effect relationships)
Standard 2B: The student understands the global scope, outcome, and human costs of the war
Therefore, the student is able to:
Describe the major turning points of the war and the principal theaters of conflict in Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and the South Pacific.
Analyze the role of nationalism and propaganda in mobilizing civilian populations in support of "total war". (Examine the influence of ideas)
Explain how massive industrial production and innovations in military technology affected strategy, tactics, and the scale and duration of the war. (Analyze cause and effect relationships)
Analyze how the Russian Revolution and the entry of the United States affected the course and the outcome of the war. (Analyze cause and effect relationships).