World War I | Small Group
In this 20-minute small-group lesson, students explore how World War I affected economies by creating scarcity, changing what people bought and made, and forcing governments to use resources carefully. Students analyze a simple wartime supply problem and explain how choices affect needs and wants.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| scarcity | When there is not enough of something for everyone who wants it. |
| resources | Things people use to make goods or provide services, such as land, labor, and materials. |
| rationing | Giving people a limited amount of something so there is enough for everyone. |
| economy | How people make, buy, and use goods and services. |
| war effort | The work a country does to support soldiers and fighting during a war. |
Show three picture cards: bread, metal, and fabric. Ask: What if a town suddenly needed more of these for soldiers and workers? Briefly guide students to the idea that there may not be enough for everyone.
Turn and talk in pairs, then share one idea about what happens when there are not enough supplies.
Explain that during World War I, many materials were used for the war effort, which caused scarcity at home. Introduce rationing as a way to share limited supplies fairly. Write the key words on the board and define them simply.
Listen, repeat key words, and give one example of something that might be rationed.
Give each group a short scenario: a factory can make either blankets for families or uniforms for soldiers, but not both. Provide supply cards and ask students to decide what to produce first and why. Prompt them to think about needs, wants, and limited resources.
Work together to sort cards, choose a production decision, and explain the choice using the words scarcity or rationing.
Ask each group to share its choice in one sentence. Record responses and point out that different choices can help different groups of people during wartime.
Present the group decision and give one reason for it.
Hand out an exit ticket with two prompts: 1) Define scarcity in your own words. 2) Tell one way World War I changed what people or governments had to do with supplies.
Write brief responses and turn them in.
Review the big idea: World War I changed the economy because resources were limited, so people and governments had to make careful choices. Ask students to complete the sentence: 'During World War I, scarcity caused people to ___. '
Formative assessment includes observation during group discussion, student explanations during share-out, and the exit ticket responses.
Draw and label one example of scarcity in everyday life, and write 2-3 sentences explaining how it is similar to rationing during World War I.