1. WWI and Trench Warfare A Simulation Activity for the Classroom
Introductory Lesson to Ch 23: America and the Great War
This was the war that was all about trench warfare.
trench warfare: fighting from makeshift battlefield defenses over prolonged period The total number of casualties in World War I, both military and civilian, was about 37 million: 16 million deaths and 21 million wounded. The total number of deaths includes 9.7 million military personnel and about 6.8 million civilians. The Entente Powers (also known as the Allies) lost about 5.7 million soldiers while the Central Powers lost about 4 million.
Unlike most (if not all) conflicts that took place in the 19th century and before, the majority of military deaths in World War I were caused by combat as opposed to disease. Improvements in medicine as well as the increased lethality of military weaponry were both factors in this development. Nevertheless, disease (including the Spanish flu) still caused a significant proportion of military deaths for all belligerents.
A Simulation Activity for the Classroom
Ms. VanZandt’s Rules

2. The Trenches

3. Trench warfare is a form of warfare in which combatants occupy fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely protected or immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery. It has become a byword for attrition warfare, for stalemate in conflict, with a slow wearing down of opposing forces.

4. WWI was a war fought from 1914 to 1918, in which Great Britain, France, Russia, Belgium, Italy, Japan, the United States, and other allies defeated Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria.

5. No Man’s Land

6. Over the Top

9. The Weapons

10. TANKS, the worlds first, used in WWI

11. FLAME THROWERS

12. Mustard Gas

13. Belgium Armored Car

14. Trench Foot

15. The “Cooties” (Lice)

16. Trench Warfare Simulation
The Trenches – The defensive lines soldiers built to hold a position. You will build trenches lines using the desks in the class. You may not stack them higher than waist level, for safety reasons.
“No Man’s Land”- The area between the trenches where “no man” survives because both sides are facing off with each other across this space. You will not go into this area unless ordered to do so. (an assault forward, “Over the top”)
“Over the Top”- The command given to assault forward out of the trenches. This usually resulted in heavy casualties. Your side may be ordered to assault. DO NOT CLIMB OVER THE DESKS.
“Incoming”- called when mortar rounds were landing on or near a position. You must seek shelter and cover your head while also counting for five seconds. No firing from your side during this time.

17. Trench Warfare Simulation, Cont.
“Gas, Gas, Gas”- called when a gas attack was happening. When you hear this command on your side you are to simulate putting on your gas mask and counting one- one thousand, two -one thousand… for five seconds. No firing from your side during this time.
Trench Foot- A foot fungus that was common with prolonged stays in the trenches. If you are told you have trench foot you are out of commission and move to the front of the room.
“Cooties”- slang for lice which was near impossible to avoid while living in the trenches. If you are told you have cooties, you may not fire until you pass it on to another soldier in your trench.
The Ammunition- Bullets, mortars, grenades, cannons, machineguns, all required some form of munitions to fire at the enemy. You will use paper balls, single sheets only. DO NOT throw anything else. If you are hit you are to go to the “hospital”, move to the front of the room.
Look out- Someone needs to keep guard to look out for any administrators.
The winning team- has the last man standing.