Teaching World War I in the 21st Century 1 | Page 46

Overview: Students connect actual names and individual actions with larger events of World War I by learning about the
Distinguished Service Cross and honoring a soldier from the United States who earned one. Students research a recipient
of the medal and write an editorial commemorating that soldier. This can be kept within the classroom, but also offers
the opportunity for community outreach if there are local honorees. This lesson can serve as a concluding activity for a
unit on World War I or a launch into a World War I unit.

LESSON DESCRIPTION:

Time: One to four days (depending on how much choice a teacher gives to students and how much research is expected).

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Devices with internet access

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Writing utensils

Materials:
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Source Analysis: Distinguished Service Cross Medal
Get to Know Your Soldier Organizer
Editorial Outline

Make one copy of each handout per student.

LESSON PREPARATION:
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Students need to have access to the websites listed, and the teacher should navigate the websites ahead of time.
Students may select a soldier of his or her choosing, or the teacher can narrow it down to a limited number of
soldiers.

Go to http://historyexplorer.si.edu/artifacts and in the Search History Explorer box type “Distinguished Service
Cross.” In the Search Results box click on the photograph and read about the medal. Be sure to enlarge the image.

Day 1 Procedure:
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Teachers can choose to have students work alone, in small groups, or as an entire class. Either way, students
should individually complete the Source Analysis worksheet using the medal and the website as a guide.

Go to http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/ and click “Search by Keyword.” Type “Distinguished
Service Cross” and click on the medal in the search results. Finish the Source Analysis worksheet using the
additional details listed here.
Using the listed websites on page two of the Get to Know Your Soldier Organizer and other reliable online
sources, select a soldier from World War I who was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. Complete
page one of the Get to Know Your Soldier Organizer as best you can using the available sources.
Finalize the Get to Know Your Soldier Organizer.

Day 2 Procedure:
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Complete the Editorial Outline using the information collected. Use it to write the final editorial.
Source Analysis Sheet

Assessment Materials:
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Get to Know Your Soldier Organizer
Editorial Outline

Completed editorial

Read “The Shock of War” and add several sentences to your letter about the impact of the war on soldiers. Write
in general terms like “Many soldiers in World War I…” Be careful not to make assumptions about the impact on
your specific soldier. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-shock-of-war-55376701/

Methods for Extension:

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Lesson Plans & Activities