1. LIFE IN THE TRENCHES

2. Learning goals By the end of today’s lesson, students will be able to…
describe the conditions men faced during WWI
describe how global forces (i.e. WWI) have influenced Canadian policies and identity since 1914

3. Your task Today’s lesson focuses on the struggles of life
in the trenches of a WWI soldier. While
viewing the slides, make notes on the
conditions soldiers were faced with in WWI.
Here are three key categories:
The Message
The Equipment
The Conditions

4. Topic 1
The Message

5. A picture of soldiers going
The Canadian government wanted to encourage men to enlist for war.
They said the war would be safe, hardly any fighting, a good lark and over by Christmas.
They used advertising posters to encourage this idea!
A picture of soldiers going
‘Over the Top’

6. The reality of ‘going over the top’ was very different!

7. Posters always showed men ready and willing to fight.
They never showed the boredom of the trenches or actual fighting taking place.
Why do you think the government showed no fighting?

8. Topic 2
The expectations

9. The Uniform
Soldiers were expected to carry all of their equipment with them at all times. Packs could weigh up to pounds.
They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition – they were members of the British Army after all. . .

10. How the uniform and equipment changed after just three weeks in the trenches… 6

11. Topic 3
The conditions

12. Copy this diagram of a WWI Trench Network
NO MAN’S LAND
ARTILLERY CANNONS

13. 1

15. What observations can you make?
No smiling and relaxed faces…
No clean uniforms…
Their equipment is scattered everywhere…
Boredom and sleep are obvious…
Quesiton: How would these conditions affect the soldiers? 7

16. Mass Devastation

17. Freezing Winters

18. 2
The Smell!
THE SMELL!!!

19. 3

20. THE RATS! 4
The soldiers had very little decent food, and what food they had was often attacked by rats.
These rats were the size of small rabbits and badgers because they had fed on the decomposing bodies of dead soldiers.

21. 5
TRENCH FOOT

22. Watch out it’s coming . . .

25. Task
You have looked at the posters that the government used to persuade men to go to war.
You have looked at photographs showing what war was really like.
Watch the video ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, and complete the questions