What was life like in Britain during the First World War?
This was the first conflict in which the daily lives of civilians were affected - many people faced dangerous and challenging situations.
Use this ready-made PowerPoint to introduce Lives of the First World War to your class.
Pick Life Stories to investigate and download the Powerpoint containing primary sources relating to that person.
Take a look at our suggested activities to try with your class, as well as other IWM resources that relate to the theme.
Use Lives of the First World War to research names on your local war memorial - this could be a school memorial to former pupils, or a town or community monument.
We have selected Life Stories connected to this theme. Download the pack of sources connected to the Life Story.
Dorothy Brown was a munitions worker who died in an accidental explosion
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William was a conscientious objector who was imprisoned in Newcastle and London
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William treated 'shell shock' patients at Craiglockhart Hosptial, including poet Siegfried Sassoon
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Emma was a teacher at a school which was bombed during an air raid over London
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William earned a Victoria Cross for shooting down a Zeppelin airship over Hertfordshire
Download Pack1. Use the facts, images, evidence and stories on Life Story pages to compare and contrast individual experiences - think about similarities and differences between these people’s lives.
2. Study one of the sources in detail. When was it written, and for what purpose? What does it tell you about the person’s Life Story? Pick out details about their age, background and family. How does this information relate to their wartime experiences?
3. Create a mini exhibition based on one person’s story. Select three sources from the person’s Life Story page, and create a title and theme for the exhibition.
4. Encourage creative responses inspired by a Life Story, such as poetry, letters, art, drama, music, or dance.
Discover fascinating images from IWM Collections
Find out more about the effects on people in Britain
Explore the stories of nine women employed in industry
From clocks going forward, to blackouts
Discover the different ways that the war affected women's lives
Learn about the raids that shook Britain
The Charles Skey Charitable Trust
We really enjoyed using Lives of the First World War ... the student feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Hinchley Wood School
Help IWM piece together the Life Stories of over 8 million men and women from across Britain and the Commonwealth who served in uniform and worked on the home front during the First World War.
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