Author Archives: Catriona Pennell

Beyond the Trenches: Researching the First World War

Contributed by Al Golding, Communications Co-ordinator AHRC

worldwaroneanditslegacyBeyond the Trenches is an online resource reflecting a variety of perspectives on arts and humanities research into the First World War in the year of the centennial commemoration.

This blog is run by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), one of the First World War Centenary partners. Enter your email address here to get updates about the blog. The AHRC would particularly welcome teachers getting involved in the discussion which can be done by contributing comments underneath each blog entry.

Using a school blog to discuss the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Contributed by Matt Oswin, Shaw Ridge Primary School, Swindon

We have recently started a blog with our Year 6 children. In addition to sharing examples of their work and activities in school, each week on a Monday, a ‘Question of the Week’ is asked. This question can be about any subject, but does not have a ‘right’ answer that can just be Googled. To mark the centenary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June, the question of the week was: If the Archduke had not been assassinated, would World War I have happened? We recorded the opinions of some of the class and received comments from around the world; these can be heard and read here.

Imperial War Museums – First World War Remembrance

Contributed by Charlie Keitch, Digital Learning Officer, IWM

IWM (Art.IWM ART 2884)

IWM (Art.IWM ART 2884)

First World War Remembrance is a new online learning resource for teachers from IWM. The resource looks at how the act of Remembrance developed during the First World War and features highlights from across IWMs collections. These include objects, photographs, maps and artworks for teachers to download and use in the classroom. The resource also includes a video featuring Mark Beautement, a historian working with the Ministry of Defence featuring footage of Remembrance during the First World War.

IWM is developing a range of resources for teachers which will be released throughout the centenary of the First World War. These will be available from the Learning Resources section of IWM’s website as they are released.

Teaching the Great War Through Peace

Contributed by Troy Paddock, Southern Connecticut State University

In November 2011,Troy Paddock and Catherine Shortell, academic staff at Southern Connecticut State University published an article exploring ways to teach a particular episode of the First World War to American High School students. Paddock acknowledges that the Great War is much more ‘present’ in Britain compared to American society and culture. However, the article may be of interest to UK teachers. + Read the full post…