Year 6 - History
Trench warfare on the Western Front
The Great War: how did the Great War affect local people and their communities?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the Great War and how it is commemorated. By looking at several specific local studies, pupils gain knowledge of how this war affected local people and their communities. This unit can be adapted to suit pupils' local contexts.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what conflict was like in World War One.
Key Notes
- World War One had many fronts; battles were fought on the Western Front, the Eastern Front, in Africa and in Asia.
- The Western Front saw the use of trench warfare where the conditions were terrible, and many people suffered.
- In some battles, like the Somme in 1917, mass attacks led to thousands of dead or wounded soldiers in a day.
- Many soldiers wrote letters or kept diaries to record their experiences.
Vocabulary To Learn
- front: a front refers to the line where opposing armies meet in battle
- trench: a trench is a long, deep hole dug in the ground, where soldiers fought from, lived in and used to shelter from the enemy
- 'No Man's Land': the piece of land in between the defensive trenches of rival armies was called 'No Man's Land'
- morale: morale is a feeling of positivity about what is happening
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think trenches were dug like long, straight ditches.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
World War One had many fronts; battles were fought on the Western Front, the Eastern Front, in Africa and in Asia. The Western Front saw the use of trench warfare where the conditions were terrible, and many people suffered.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'front'
a front refers to the line where opposing armies meet in battle.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may think trenches were dug like long, straight ditches. Correction: Trenches were dug in a zig zag shape for better protection.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 6 History guide library.