The First World War - The Role of Women

This lesson explores the significant changes in women’s roles during the First World War. Students will examine how total war necessitated women’s participation in various sectors, including factories, transport, and medical services. Activities include a gallery task to create informative posters, a gallery walk for peer learning, and writing a report to the government on women’s contributions and recommendations for societal changes post-war.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction to Total War:

Define total war and discuss its implications on society.
Watch a video explaining total war.
Women’s Roles Before the War:

Discuss women’s traditional roles before WWI, focusing on domestic jobs and limited legal rights.
Highlight exceptions where women were part of the workforce, especially in textiles.
Women’s Roles During the War:

Explain the shift in women’s roles due to the war, taking on jobs traditionally held by men.
Discuss the various sectors where women worked: factories, transport, medical services, police, and military auxiliary corps.
Gallery Task:

In groups, create posters on different aspects of women’s roles during WWI.
Include a caption summarising the information.
Display posters around the classroom.
Gallery Walk:

Students walk around and view the posters, completing a mind map with facts and details from each poster.
Report to the Government 1918:

Write a report imagining you are an advisor to the government at the end of the war.
Include the situation before the war, reasons for women’s role changes, examples of their contributions, and recommendations for societal changes.
Use the provided structure and sentence starters.
Resources:

Video link on total war
Information packs for the gallery task
Poster materials
Mind map template
Report structure and sentence starters
Taken from a series of over 30 First World War lessons made by Wolsey Academy. They provide a thorough foundation of knowledge in this vital period of 20th Century History and each lesson looks to focus on a range of historical skills and exam techniques to equip students with knowledge and transferable research, analysis and study skills.

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