World War I | Mini Lesson
Students explore how World War I changed economies by increasing demand for supplies, changing jobs and production, and affecting trade. Through discussion, sorting, and a simple simulation, students learn that big events can change how people make, buy, sell, and share resources.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Economy | The way people make, buy, and sell goods and services. |
| Goods | Things people can buy or use, like food, clothes, and tools. |
| Supply | How much of something is available. |
| Demand | How much people want something. |
| Trade | Buying, selling, or exchanging goods between places or countries. |
| Resources | Things used to make goods, such as workers, materials, and machines. |
| Production | Making goods in factories or by workers. |
Show two simple images: a factory making everyday goods and a wartime factory making supplies. Ask: What do you notice? What might change when a country is at war? Record student ideas.
Observe images, share prior knowledge, and make predictions about how war might affect work, goods, and trade.
Explain that during World War I, countries needed many supplies for soldiers, so factories made more weapons, uniforms, food, and medical items. Discuss how this could change jobs, prices, and trade with other countries.
Listen, take notes with teacher support, and answer quick questions about supply, demand, and production.
Give small groups scenario cards describing changes such as 'a factory changes from making shoes to making boots for soldiers' or 'ships cannot deliver goods easily.' Guide students to sort each card into categories: production, trade, jobs, or prices.
Work in groups to sort cards and explain why each effect belongs in a category.
Run a simple class simulation with limited 'resources' (paper tokens). Tell students that some tokens represent workers, materials, and transportation. Remove a few tokens to show wartime shortages and increased military need. Ask students to notice what happens when supplies are limited and demand is high.
Participate in the simulation, track changes, and discuss how shortages can affect goods and prices.
Prompt students to write 2-3 sentences explaining one way World War I affected the economy and one result of that change. Provide sentence frames as needed.
Write an individual response using vocabulary words and evidence from the lesson.
Invite a few students to share their responses. Clarify misunderstandings and connect all ideas back to the main question: How does war affect an economy?
Share thinking, listen to classmates, and revise ideas if needed.
Revisit the essential question: How did World War I change the economy? Have students complete the sentence: 'War affects the economy because ____.' Summarize that war can change what is made, who works, how goods move, and how much things cost.
Students will be assessed through the group sorting activity and the independent cause-and-effect response. Look for accurate use of vocabulary, clear explanation of one economic change, and a correct connection between war and economic effects.
At home, ask a family member what happens in a community when there is a big emergency or shortage. Write 3-4 sentences about how that situation is similar to changes during World War I.