Western+Front

VELS Level 6 **   **Up Close and Personal - The Western Front a Subject Sampler
 * = **Year Ten Australian History - Elective
 * VELS - Humanities History ** //Students also learn about key events, ideologies and social and cultural movements that have shaped the contemporary world. They consider the impact of war on people and countries in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. //  ||

**

 **Introduction - Learning Focus ** ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, Poppies, Medals, the Shrine are all words of phrases that as Australians we hear each year. But how much do we really understand about World War One? Complete the following activities to develop an understanding that War is more than words and statistics.

**[|Song - Bombed Last Night] **
 web 2.0 Elton John - All Quiet on the Western Front media type="youtube" key="NK-zDxQKXOY" height="344" width="425"
 * 1) Read the words of the song. Explain what you think is the key message given.
 * 2) What words could you use to describe how you think the soldier in the picture may be feeling?

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Passchendaele: Drowning in mud] **
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Explain how you think it would have felt to have been part of the Battle on July 31st, 1917.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">'It was a success, albeit at a cost of 24,000 casualties.' Consider what you think this statement means.

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Menin Gate Service] **
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What does the Menin Gate represent?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Why do you think a service is held at the Menin Gate every night?

**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Villiers Bretonneux Memorial] **
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> web 2.0 [|World War One the life of a Soldier]
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What do you think the term 'known to god' means?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">What does the 'unknown soldier' represent to you?
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">How important do you think memorials are?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> The [|Commonwealth War Graves Commission] plays a leading role in the commemoration of the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died with WWI and WW2. Investigate this site to explore the work of this Commission. Examine the work which is currently being done in Fromelles and consider why this is seen to be of historical importance.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Investigate the artifacts as provided in this animation.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">If you had the opportunity to interview a WWI soldier what are the questions you would like to ask?
 * 3) What knowledge do you have of your ancestors involvement with WW1? Use the web to explore how you could find out about your families military history.
 * Extension**