Lesson Plan

“The Art of War”: Trench Art of World War I

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Teach pupils how veterans used art to deal with PTSD and shell-shock from trench warfare during World War I. Scholars use graphic organizers, a cartoon analysis sheet, and their own inferences to analyze primary source art work by veterans.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Work with school counselors to further discuss art therapy and PTSD
  • Ask a veteran to speak to the class about his or her personal experiences
Classroom Considerations
  • Takes as short as a day depending on how in-depth you would like to go
  • Some activities require a high level of maturity
  • The second installment of a nine-part series
Pros
  • Provides differentiation ideas for English learners 
  • Methods for how to extend the lesson make it easy to individualize
  • The variety of primary sources builds analysis skills 
Cons
  • None