First World War
Know at the time as The Great War it centred in Europe and began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. Over 200,000 Irishmen served with British forces during the war with estimates of between 28,000 and 49,000 killed
The selection of resources on this page have been provided by teachers and are aimed at supporting the Irish school curriculum. To get a more complete listing of resources and to filter them for your level use Scoilnet's search.
The war - how it started and how it finished
The First World War was the first really global war involving armies from all around the globe.
Interactive Exploration of World War One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/ Added: 05 Nov 2006 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: Cluiche / EileExcellent interactive exploration of World War One , where letters, diaries, newspaper cuttings of actual peoples and events can be explored. A selection of games are included to enhance the exploration.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
- 5-6
- OSIE: Stair
Strand: Tréimhsí athraithe agus coimhlinte
Strand unit: An Chéad Chogadh Domhanda
Suggestions for use: Excellent interactive exploration of World War One , where letters, diaries, newspaper cuttings of actual peoples and events can be explored
- JC
- Stair
Strand: Caidreamh idirnáisiúnta le linn an 20ú haois
Suggestions for use: Students could chose one aspect of the war and use the information as a starting point for their own research
Origins of World War One
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...worldwar/document_packs/origins.htm Added: 04 Jan 2007 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: Foinse PhríomhaDocument pack from the British National Archives that looks at the German case, the Allied case and other factors that caused the war with the aid of primary documents.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
- SC
- Stair
Strand: An Eoraip sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 2. Teannas Idirnáisiúnta, 1871-1920
40 Maps that Explain World War 1
http://www.vox.com/a/world-war-i-maps Added: 27 Jun 2014 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type:Highly visual resource that presents a series of maps and accompanying text to explain WW1. Covers such areas as European alliances in 1914, the unification of Germany, the mobilisation for war, the major battles, technology used in the war, the war outside Europe, consequences of the war.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
Strand: Caidreamh idirnáisiúnta le linn an 20ú haois
Suggestions for use: Present to class on IWB. Very engaging with lots of points around which to build a class.
Key Skills: Bheith Cruthaitheach Litearthacht
Strand: An Eoraip sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 2. Teannas Idirnáisiúnta, 1871-1920
Suggestions for use: Present to class on IWB. Very engaging with lots of points around which to build a class.
Going a little deeper . . .
Imperial War Museum - Podcasts
Contains a list of podcasts on vaious aspects of the First World War. Starts with The Shot that Led to War. New podcasts are released monthly. Length of podcasts vary.
Newspapers to follow events as they unfolded
Irish Times Archive (available free through the Schools Broadband Network)
Daily Telegraph (full original version re-published in PDF format from Jan 1 1914 to Dec 31 1918)
UK National Archives
Dedicated site containing excellent podcasts, videos, diaries and searchable databases of records associated with the war. The National Archives also has a teacher's site that is quite focused to classroom needs and contains an excellent Teacher's Notes section.
PBS - The Great War
Excellent descriptions and notes on most aspects of the war. Articles are concise and many link to images and maps. Students will find the timeline useful while the lesson plans are well structured and thought out.
Opinions of Historians
Offers short comments from historians on different aspects of the war.
Ireland and the Great War
Around 200,000 Irish people fought in World War 1. There were thousands of casualties - much more than there were in the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Ireland and World War One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/britis...ritain_wwone/ireland_wwone_01.shtml Added: 28 May 2005 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: Foinse ThánaisteachGood BBC article that examines the impact of World War I on Ireland. It examines the reasons men joined the British Army, the battles in which Irish divisions were involved and the impact of 1916.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
- SC
- Stair
Strand: Éire sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 3. Flaitheas, 1912-1949
Strand: Éire sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 3. Flaitheas, 1912-1949
Mr Redmond and the Volunteers
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper...BB4AE8FF4C68394C68804DE8C066B906683 Added: 26 Feb 2015 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: Foinse PhríomhaIrish Times (free within the Schools Broadband Network) report on the speech given by John Redmond to Irish Volunteers in Co Laois in August 1914. In the speech Redmond talks about impending home rule, the need to give a welcome to Ulster unionists and the arming of the Irish Volunteers. The speech is considered to be historically very important.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
- SC
- Stair
Strand: Éire sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 3. Flaitheas, 1912-1949
Suggestions for use: Get students to research the account of Redmond's speech. Consider how it might have been reported if it happened today.
Ireland and the Great War
http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1011-ireland-and-the-great-war/ Added: 12 Dec 2012 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: CluicheOnline exhibition on Ireland and First World War. Links to many short videos with former Irish-born soldiers recounting their experiences and the horrors of war.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
- SC
- Stair
Strand: Éire sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 3. Flaitheas, 1912-1949
Suggestions for use: This could be used as a topic starter or as a recap activity
Ulster Covenant - On the Brink of Civil War
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19677743 Added: 12 Nov 2012 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: Foinse ThánaisteachExcellent audio slideshow based on the Radio Ulster series "A Short History of Ireland". Deals with events from the Larne gun-running to the outbreak of World War I. Includes accounts from the period - very useful resource for class.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
- SC
- Stair
Strand: Éire sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 3. Flaitheas, 1912-1949
Strand: Éire sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 2. Leasú Polaitíochta agus Sóisialta, 1870-1914
The Sinking of the Lusitania
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpwwi2.htm Added: 27 Apr 2015 Contributor: Scoilnet Resource type: Treoir/nótaíA short page of notes, with small images, on the luxury liner that was built in 1907 and sunk by a German torpedo in May 1915 off the coast of Cork. Article also references the political fallout from the sinking and how American attitudes to Germany changed.
View full descriptionHow it maps to the curriculum
Strand: Caidreamh idirnáisiúnta le linn an 20ú haois
Suggestions for use: Basic page of notes - excellent for basic reference.
Key Skills: Eolas agus Smaointeoireacht a Bhainistiú
Strand: An Eoraip sa Nua-aois Dhéanach
Strand unit: 2. Teannas Idirnáisiúnta, 1871-1920
Suggestions for use: Basic page of notes - excellent for basic reference. Teachers could explore how the sinking changed attitudes during the WW1.
Going a little deeper . . .
Ireland's Memorial Records
Searchable archive of the 49,000 soldiers from the island of Ireland killed during the First World War. Collebarotive project involving Google, In Flanders' Fields Museum and the Department of Foreign Affairs
ABC - Gallipoli
One of the best designed digital resources on WWI although aimed at an Australian audience those following the 10th Irish Division will find it very useful. Eric Bogle's song And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda captures the mood of Australian troops and is considered one of the great anti-war songs.
The Irish commander of the submarine at Gallipoli
Students may be interested in the story of the Australian submarine - commanded by Irishman Lt-Commander Henry Stoker, a cousin of the author Bram Stoker.
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