WWI Education Resources for Teachers

We hope that the content of our greatwar.co.uk website will offer teachers and students a range of useful information for study on First World War topics, that it will help to point you in the right direction for further study and will show you photographs, locations and visitors' information for making visits to the battlefields of the Western Front in Belgium and France.

The content and photographs on our website are our copyright (unless otherwise stated), nevertheless we are happy for teachers and students to use text and images for written work in projects, presentations and so forth. We do request that they are not directly reproduced in a website format.

The information given below comprises a list of organizations with WW1 related education programmes, websites of good reputation and school battlefield tour travel companies. The list is intended to provide helpful pointers for teachers looking for resources for personal experiences of the First World War, the 1914-1918 Home Front, the meaning of “Remembrance”, planning for Remembrance Day assemblies and projects, and preparing for visits to see the battlefields of the Western Front.

We make suggestions in good faith, but if you have any cause to find a problem with any organization or resource we have suggested, please let us know.

WW1 Related Education Programmes & Resources

Birdsong Play 2014: Learning Resources Pack

An education pack including a variety of topics, lesson plans, resources and images. To download the pack as a pdf and for an email contact to ask for more information go to the Birdsong The Tour 2014 website:

Website: www.birdsongthetour.com Learning

British Library: Resources for Teaching World War One

A new website launched in January 2014 for teachers containing over 500 historical sources from across Europe. The British Library has worked with 11 partner institutions in 7 European countries to collate the sources. The site examines key themes and provides teachers' notes.

Website: www.bl.uk World War One

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme battlefield, France.
Thiepval Memorial France

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has produced a wide variety of free online and downloadable documents, presentations, classroom resources, Easy Read leaflets and advice for teachers with relation to the subject of the study of the First World War, visits to the military cemeteries in the care of this organization and the theme of “Remembrance”.

Ideas for assemblies to commemorate Remembrance Day, aspects of commemorating those who have died in battle and free publications, DVDs and CDs available to schools and scouts from the Commission are included in a comprehensive section on the CWGC website devoted to education resources.

Main features of the CWGC's education section include web-based and sound archive resources:

For details about the CWGC and its education services visit the Learning and Resources section of the CWGC website at:

Website: www.cwgc.org Learning & Resources

Durham County Record Office: The Learning Zone

Durham County Record Office offers an education service to teachers and students including visits to the Record Office, outreach visits to schools, workshops and resource packs from Key Stage 1 to 5 and web units.

Telephone: Educational Archivist on 0191-383 4210

Website: www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk Learning zone

Free History Resources for Schools

A website specifically designed to help teaching staff easily find a wide range of websites and organizations which offer free resources for teaching history. There is no subscription fee to search the site or request the resources you find. All the organizations featured on the website provide free resources to either be downloaded or sent by post. For further information see the website at:

Website: www.resources4schools.co.uk

Guards Regimental Museum, London

The Guards Museum is very keen to encourage school visits and help with education resources for teachers and young people. For more information visit the website at:

Website: www.theguardsmuseum.com Schools & Education

Historic Newspapers: Free WW1 Newspaper Book Resource Pack

Newspapers are a wonderful way to teach children about World War One, as each newspaper is filled with stories from eyewitnesses who were present at the time, making it a pleasurable way to aid learning and engage interest and imagination.

The World War One newspaper book can be used to discuss the changing nature of conflict, the cooperation between countries, the shift of alliances and the lasting impact of the war on national, ethnic, cultural and religious issues. To find out more, to download newspapers as pdf files or to request a free hard copy of the World War One Newspaper Book visit the website:

Website: www.historic-newspapers.co.uk

Imperial War Museum Duxford: Learning

The Imperial War Museum Duxford provides a learning programme suitable for all ages. This includes workshops, illustrated talks, tours, handling sessions, role-play, talking with veterans and Special Days. These activities can be joined by organized group visits or informal self-directed tours on a visit to the museum.

Information on resources for teachers and educational visits to the museum is available at the Imperial War Museum Duxford website:

Website: www.duxford.iwm.org.uk Groups and Schools

Imperial War Museum London: Learning

The Education Department at the Imperial War Museum London (IWM) offers group visits, events, teaching programmes and film showings. In addition, there is a range of learning resources available to buy from the museum shop including education packs and books.

Website: www.iwm.org.uk Learning

The Muddy Choir (Touring show) Teaching Resources

The story of three young soldiers in the Durham Light Infantry whose love of music might be their ticket away from the front, or their downfall. To mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War the show is touring to 11 venues and over 40 schools to November 2014.

Education resources have been produced to assist teachers:

Website: www.theatre-centre.co.uk Education Resources - The Muddy Choir

Maritime Archaeological Trust

The Maritime Archaeological Trust has an imaginative interactive, cross curricular activity for schools based around a virtual archaeological dive titled First World War - A Shipwreck Story. The kit includes: session plans, powerpoints, activity sheets and teacher's notes on a CD. A CD enables teaching staff to take students through a realistic process of archaeological and historical investigation. It is a hands-on and practical programme. For more information visit the page on the website at:

Website: www.maritimearchaeologicaltrust.org WW1 wrecks

National Army Museum, London

The museum is closed for a major refurbishment. During this time the museum will be offering outreach programmes. For information see the website:

Website: www.national-army-museum.ac.uk Education

The National Archives, Kew

The National Archives at Kew brings history to life with a variety of resources both online and as taught sessions. A range of records held at the archive can be accessed for different periods in history from medieval to the present day. The First World War is covered within “Early 20th Century 1901-1918”. Themes for this period include: Liberal reforms, suffragettes and the First World War.

Resources are available for teachers and for students, with advice on how to visit the archive and use the resources, activities, Key Stage related topics and news bulletins. For information visit the Education section of the National Archives website at:

Website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Education

National Maritime Museum, London

The museum caters for group visits, guided tours and UK school groups. Information for schools and teachers, adult learning, families, community development, students and tutors can be found on the museum website at:

Website: www.rmg.co.uk Schools

Poppy Image for Use by Schools

Photographer Carl Scott has offered this Remembrance Day image of a poppy and the In Flanders Fields poem by John McCrae. Carl will be pleased for schools to use this image with a credit to him as the photographer. It is available at the following webpage:

Remembrance Image Project

The aim of this project is to create a library of creative photographs documenting key sites associated with the First World War. Where possible the photos will be taken at a point in time close to the 100th anniversary of a battle action in the same location. By publishing the images it will create an archive for future generations to see and reflect on and discuss.

Free resources for students and community groups will be made available by the project. Students are encouraged to take photos and share their thoughts on a Twitter feed and facebook page.

For more information see the website:

Website: riproject.wordpress.com

Royal Air Force Museum Hendon, London

Information about educational activities for individual visitors and groups of children at all levels is available from the museum website at:

Website: www.rafmuseum.org.uk London/Learning

The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion produces a free learning pack to help and advise teachers and leaders of young people's organizations on how to introduce themes related to “ Remembrance” to young people. The pack supports learning in the National Curriculum from Key Stages 1 to 4. Posters are available and the pack can be downloaded.

There is also information about the scheme called Postcards to Veterans and advice on planning a battlefield tour.

For further information to to the Remembrance: Schools and Young People section of the Royal British Legion website at:

Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk Schools and Learning

Spartacus Educational

Spartacus Educational is an online active learning resource produced by John Simkin, BA, MA, MPhil.

The encyclopaedia of the First World War on the Spartacus Educational website is created in sections, these being: Chronology, Outbreak of War, Allied Armed Forces, Central Powers, Important Battles, Technology, Political Leaders, British Home Front, Military Leaders, Trench War, The Soldiers and Major Offensives.

The website also includes the First World War Poetry Digital Archive. This is an online repository of more than 7,000 items for teaching, learning and research. They include text, images, audio and video.

For more information about the Digital Archive and its contents and this comprehensive resource visit the website.

Website: www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk First World War

The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset

Walk-through trench at the Tank Museum, Bovington.
Trench at Tank Museum Bovington

The Tank Museum in Dorset is an established centre for learning with activities supporting the National Curriculum. The museum offers services for individuals and groups wanting to learn about the subjects of warfare, history and the Royal Armoured Corps regiments. There is an excellent walk-through trench experience. For information about the services for teachers, schools, students in higher education and access to the archive resources go to The Tank Museum website at:

Website: www.tankmuseum.org Learning & Research

United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials (UKNIWM)

Memorial to Douglas Morris Harris, RNVR and 1914-1918 War Memorial near St. Peter's Church, Wolverhampton.
Two WW1 memorials in Wolverhampton

This project is supported by the Imperial War Museum (London). It is a project to list and locate over 60,000 war memorials in the United Kingdom.

A database of names featured on the United Kingdom war memorials, which was started in conjuction with the Channel 4 programme “Lost Generation”, is currently unavailable to browse. It is currently being retrieved and will then be available as an integral part of this whole project.

For further information about how to use the UKNIWM as a resource now, and how it plans to develop material for use by teachers once the database of names is available, you are welcome to contact the project through the website at:

Website: www.ukniwm.org.uk

Virtual WW1 Exhibitions Online

See our page for links to virtual exhibitions online, which will be useful for family history, battlefield visitors, researchers and students of World War One.

Virtual WW1 Exhibitions for Research Online

War Horse Educational Materials

War Horse, the stage play.
War Horse the stage play.

The story of War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo, has elements which can be used by teachers, students or researchers for English, History and Drama studies. The award winning War Horse stage show offers free resources in the form of a downloadable Resource Pack and a Scheme of Work on its website. There is also an interactive map to find out about the role of horses in the First World War.

Website: www.warhorseonstage.com Education

War Memorials Trust Learning Programme

Animals in War Memorial on Park Lane, London.
Animals in War Memorial, London

The War Memorials Trust has developed a Learning Programme which aims to involve young people in the history behind many hundreds of war memorials located across the United Kingdom, and help them to preserve the memory of the people they commemorate. In so doing, the Trust intends to inspire a desire by the younger generation to continue its dedicated work in the care and preservation of these memorials.

The War Memorials Trust encourages young people to get involved and will offer every assistance to teachers and group leaders wishing to know more about how young volunteers can help and how the Trust's resources for learning can be used.

To find out more about the Learning Programme for Primary and Secondary age students and youth groups, visit the website at:

Website: www.learnaboutwarmemorials.org

World War 1 Toolbox

Online resources for Key Stages 1 - 4 for history or cross-curricular lesson planning.

Website: www.ww1toolbox.org.uk

WW1 Living History Groups (Uniforms & Props)

The Great War Society: Living History

The Great War Society is a non profit making organisation. It is a society based in the UK. It was founded in 1984 to provide an opportunity for practical research into the uniforms, weapons, equipment, training and everyday tasks of Great War soldiers, both of the Allied and Central powers.

Website: www.thegreatwarsociety.com

Khaki Devil: Living History

The founders of Khaki Devil, Taff Gillingham and Kev Smith, are both collectors of uniforms and equipment, providing historical advice for a long list of film, television and theatre productions.

In addition, for those groups with a very limited budget they have also established a service specifically aimed at schools, amateur dramatic societies and community theatre. Khaki Devil can help to provide uniforms and props for a number of popular productions, such as Journey's End, Oh What a Lovely War and Private Peaceful.

For details see the Khaki Devil website.

Email: Contact Taff or Kevin at [email protected]

Telephone: + 44 (0) 1473 712 723

Fax: + 44 (0) 1473 716 363

Website: www.khakidevil.co.uk

Time Bandits: Bringing History to Life

Experienced Living History historical interpreters and reenactors in costume. Based in the North East of England the team offers sessions on WW1 themes for schools, museums or private groups.

See our page at:

Time Bandits: Bringing History to Life

For information about WW1 sessions email John Sadler or visit the website:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.timebandits.org.uk

WW1 Battlefield Tour Companies for Students & School Groups

A young visitor at Tyne Cot Cemetery on the Ypres Salient.

Our website provides a listing for a number of companies which arrange tours to the First World War battlefields of Belgium and France specifically for schools, students and youth groups.

We offer the listing in good faith, based on their reputation known to us and the information supplied by these companies, but if you wish to report any problems please let us know.

For our listing of tours for educational groups see our page at:

WW1 Battlefield Tour Companies for Students & School Groups

Visiting the First World War Battlefields

The Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, location of the daily Last Post ceremony.

Our introductory page for visiting the battlefields will point you to our numerous pages across this website which contain photographs, descriptions, locations and more for the following:

Go to our page at:

Visiting the First World War Battlefields

Selection of Related Reading for Young Readers

A selection of books and a facsimile documents pack are suggested here as suitable for young readers to introduce them to the subject and help them with projects.

The First World War by Brocklehurst and Brook

The First World War (Usborne True Stories): In Association with the Imperial War Museum (hardcover)

by Ruth Brocklehurst and Henry Brook

Highly recommended.

WW1 Eyewitness book by DK

World War I (Eyewitness Series) (paperback)

by Dorling Kindersley

Photographs and stories about the people and their experiences of the First World War. Published by Dorling Kindersley. Re-issue edition (1 July 2011).

Book Frightful First World War

The Frightful First World War (Horrible Histories) (paperback)

by Terry Deary, illustrated by Martin Brown

Highly recommended by young readers and adults too. Full of facts about the horrors and hardship of a terrible war, made memorable for young readers by the clever writing and illustrations.

Book My Story The Trenches

The Trenches: A First World War Soldier, 1914-1918 (My Story Series) (paperback)

by Jim Eldridge

An account of a fictional British Army soldier and his experiences of the First World War.

Book My Story Road to War

Road to War - a First World War Girl's Diary 1916 - 1917 (My Story Series) (paperback)

by Valerie Wilding

An account of a fictional girl who joins the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and experiences the war from the perspective of a girl involved in the care of wounded servicemen and driving the ambulances.

Book One Boy's War

One Boy's War (paperback)

by Lynn Huggins-Cooper, illustrated by Ian Benfold Haywood

The story of a sixteen year old boy who enlists in the British Army underage. His experience of war and death in the trenches of the Western Front is told movingly through his letters home to his mother.

Book Archie's War

Archie's War (paperback)

by Marcia Williams

Written and illustrated by Marcia Williams, this is an unusual and fascinating visual portrayal of a young boy living on the home front in London during the First World War. World events and family relationships are portrayed by Archie in his collection of scrapbook images.

WW1 memorabilia pack by Mempack

World War 1 - Memorabilia Pack

by Memmpack

Good quality facsimile documents. The pack includes a leaflet for Joining the Ranks, a Kitchener postcard, medical report, ID card and recruitment cards.

WW1 Museums and Archives

Rare trench remains at the Sanctuary Wood private museum near Ypres, Belgium.
Trench at Sanctuary Wood, Ypres, Belgium

For information and links to museums which have collections, battle remains or archives with a focus on the First World War, in the United Kingdom, on the Western Front battlefields and around the world, see our page at:

WW1 Museums and Archives

Virtual Online Exhibitions

See our page listing online exhibitions for First World War topic which will be helpful for teachers and students to explore.

Virtual WW1 Exhibitions for Research Online

Contact us at greatwar.co.uk

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Email: [email protected]