World War I

This week, the 8th graders are starting their World War I unit in social studies.  Yesterday, we began by comparing and contrasting a map of Europe in 1914 to a modern map of Europe.  Students made observations about the two maps and then made predictions about what might have happened during the war based on territory changes and countries getting split up or renamed.  Then, we did a graffiti wall activity where they looked at maps and charts that helped explain the long term causes of the war:  Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, and Imperialism.  Next, they began to research how these causes played a part in the decades leading up to the war.  Later this week, they will learn about how that war actually started.  This week, students were also introduced to Ms. Kristin Theilen, a mini-teacher from North Park University.  Ms. Theilen will be with us for about six weeks.