1. Study this letter from the trenches. What can we learn about life in the trenches from it? Why have some words been blacked out?  How useful are letters as historical sources?  starter activity

2. What was life really like in the trenches? To research & evaluate different sources on trench warfare To write a letter home from the trenches  LOs  Key words: censorship fatigues dugouts stand to DORA

3. Ask Corporal Higgins any questions you may have about life in the trenches. Use the prompts below to help you: Rations Kit Daily routines Warfare  You may have other questions you wish to ask him

4. Study this cross-section and the sheet provided for 2 mins.

5. What can you remember?

6.  Your task Around the room you will find different types of sources material. You have 3 mins to investigate each source and record your findings, before you move on in a clockwise direction to the next work station. Around the room you will find different types of sources material. You have 3 mins to investigate each source and record your findings, before you move on in a clockwise direction to the next work station.  Which source was the most useful?  Which source was the most useful?

13.  Your task Visit the study history website and complete the trench warfare web quest task. Visit the study history website and complete the trench warfare web quest task. Imagine you are a soldier in the trenches. Write a letter home to a loved one (1 side A4) describing conditions in the trenches as vividly as you can. Imagine you are a soldier in the trenches. Write a letter home to a loved one (1 side A4) describing conditions in the trenches as vividly as you can. Structure & design of the trenches Structure & design of the trenches Food Food Clothing & equipment Clothing & equipment Health & living conditions Health & living conditions Use the evidence from today and web links on Studyhistory to develop your writing and provide as much technical vocabulary as possible

14. Success criteria Satisfactory letter Good letter Outstanding Mentions some not all of the following: daily work, health, food, living conditions Mentions all of the key categories, but some in more detail than others Mentions all four factors, but also draws on other evidence, e.g. from the video clip. Writes in the appropriate register.

15. Follow-up task Email your letter to a partner, who is a censor for the British government. Highlight in blue any information you would not allow to be sent. This was called ‘blue pencilling’ Insert a comment box explaining why you have blue-pencilled certain sections.

16. What was life really like in the trenches? To research & evaluate different sources on trench warfare To write a letter home from the trenches  LOs  Key words: censorship fatigues dugouts stand to DORA

17. What was life really like in the trenches? To research & evaluate different sources on trench warfare To write a letter home from the trenches  LOs  Key words: censorship fatigues dugouts stand to DORA Plenary