Lol HW
Lol HW
Lol HW
World War I
Life in the Trenches
Directions:
1. Read the primary source below
2. As you read, answer the questions using the boxes provided.
3. Be prepared to discuss how the source describes life in the trenches during World War I.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Symons
Draw a picture to help you remember life in the trenches based on the description in the letter. *You can use this
image to help answer the question at the end of class!
Eventually,__2___parallel trenches stretched for about 500 miles in an unbroken line from
__Switzerland____to the __North_____: The Race to the Sea.
What types of conditions did They were very muddy, uncomfortable and the toilets overflowed.
soldiers face in the trenches? These conditions caused some soldiers to develop medical
problems such as trench foot
What did it mean to go “over the It meant leaving the safety of their trenches and attacking the
top”? enemy.
What was “no man’s land”? Describes the area between opposing armies and trench lines.
Let’s explore life in the trenches during World War I by looking at some images from the time period! Here is
what you need to do:
1. There are ten (10) images from World War I trenches below.
2. Spend at least two minutes looking at each image.
3. After looking at the picture, in the box to the right of each image, use at least five (5) words to
describe life in the trenches based on the picture.
IMAGE 1: Water and Mud - Water and mud could be a problem in the trenches, particularly in the autumn
and winter months. Wooden ‘duckboards’ were used to line the bottom of trenches and the sides were
reinforced with sandbags.
IMAGE 3: Sentry Duty - This photograph shows an infantryman on sentry duty, whilst some of his comrades
snatch a few moments of sleep behind him. They are in what was previously a German trench at Ovillers-la-
Boisselle on the Somme, July 1916.
IMAGE 5 – Keeping Healthy - Soldiers in wet and muddy trenches were at risk from trench foot, caused by
continually wearing tight, cold and wet boots. If untreated, trench foot could lead to gangrene, but it could be
prevented by regular changes of socks and foot inspections – as shown here.
Use at least five (5) words to
describe life in the trenches based
on this image.
Treacherous, onlookers,
unrelenting, “doctors”,
uncomfortable
IMAGE 6 – Over the Top – Life in the front line always carried an element of danger. The threat could be
from snipers, shellfire or from taking part in a trench raid or a major offensive. This rare photograph shows the
moment when the first men go over the top during a raid in spring 1917.
IMAGE 7 – No Man’s Land – Canadian troops are seen here advancing over 'no mans land' and through the
German barbed wire whilst under fire.
Use at least five (5) words to describe life in the trenches based on this image.
IMAGE 9 – Cooking & Cleaning – Canadian Corps. infantrymen clean up and prepare food in a trench that
shows signs of heavy fighting.
Use at least five (5) words to
describe life in the trenches based
on this image.
IMAGE 10 – German Attack – French troops throw rocks at advancing German troops from their hillside
trench in the Vosges, 1916. A dead soldier lies in the front of the photo.
Use at least five (5) words to
describe life in the trenches based
on this image.
In at least five sentences below, describe the experience in the trenches for the soldiers of World War I. Use
your descriptive words from above if you need help. For example:
Describe food and drink for the soldiers.
Describe the weather conditions the soldiers faced.
Describe the weapons used in the trenches.
Describe the health and cleanliness of the soldiers.
Describe everyday life of a soldier.
Experiences for the soldiers who partook in WW1 and had to be in the trenches were extremely bad
and unforgiving, For one, the food and drinks given were unsanitary. The food usually comprised of
canned beef or pea-soup. However, the diet was balanced with balanced meats and vegetables. The
drinks were dirty, though. Soldiers ended up with bacterial infections of the intestines resulted in
fevers, diarrhea, et cetera. Next, the weather conditions were muddy, cold with miserable conditions. A
lot of soldiers died from being exposed to the cold – the temperature was sometimes below zero within
the trenches in the winter. Moreover, the trenches in WW1 improved during the progression of the
war. The majority of the casualties in the war were inflicted using artillery. The military technology of
the time included important innovations in machine guns, grenades, et cetera. In conclusion, the
experiences in WW1 were dreary and brutal. The soldiers had to deal with unbearable conditions that
hindered their performance.
WAIT! Before you submit, use the checklist below to make sure you completed everything!
Did you…
Answer all questions for the primary source on page 1-2?
Use at least five words to describe each trench warfare picture (pages 4-10)
Respond to the question asking you to describe the experience of soldiers in the x
trenches on page 10? Remember, in writing your response you can use:
Your picture from the primary source reading
Your guided notes on trench warfare
Any of the words you used to describe the images during the gallery walk