Letters From World War I Project

For this project you are going to be asked to get into the mindset of people who lived through the Great War. You will write four

letters in the voice of people who experienced World War I, and include hand-drawn sketches/illustrations that are relevant to the

details included in your letters. (For example, if you are writing as a WWI soldier fighting in the trenches, you might include a sketch

of a trench in your letter so the person you are writing to could understand what it looked like.)

Each letter should successfully capture what it would have been like to be living at the time, and should reflect the hopes and fears

of the person writing it. You should also give an indication as where the letter is being written, when it is taking place and to whom

it is being written.

Use the guidelines and rubric below to complete the letters, sketches/illustrations, and a cover page for your project.

Project Guidelines

2 Letters from the Perspective of a WWI Soldier or Nurse

(You can write these letters from the perspective of a soldier, or from the

perspective of a nurse who has seen and heard about trench warfare from the

soldiers in her care.)

2 Letters from the Perspective of a WWI Soldier’s

Friend/Family Member

● Salutation (“Dear Lois….”)

● Date

● Location

● Specific details about things such as:

○ daily life in the trenches

○ warfare/battles

○ others dangers faced

○ weapons/technologies used in war

○ disease, sickness, injuries

○ environment and living conditions

○ sanitation

○ emotions/feelings/overall mood

○ progress of the war

● Closing (“Your friend,” “Love,” “Best Wishes,” etc…)

● Hand-drawn sketches/illustrations that are relevant to the details

included in the letters

● Salutation (“Dear Lois….”)

● Date

● Location

● Specific details about things such as:

○ what’s going on at home

○ how other family members/friends are doing

○ questions about the war

○ emotions/feelings/overall mood

● Closing (“Your friend,” “Love,” “Best Wishes,” etc…)

● Hand-drawn sketches/illustrations that are relevant to the details

included in the letters

Project Scoring Rubric Name

_______________________________________________

1 / 0

2 Letters from the

Perspective of a WWI

Soldier

Letters contain a full and

complete description of the

circumstances & events of

WWI. Rich details and multiple

examples given.

Letters contain a complete

description of the

circumstances & events of WWI

Clear details and examples

given.

Letters contain a basic

description of the

circumstances & events of

WWI. Few details and

examples given.

Letters contain a vague and/or

incomplete description of the

circumstances & events of

WWI. No details or examples

given.

2 Letters from the

Perspective of a WWI

Soldier’s Friend/Family

Member

Letters contain a full and

complete description of the

circumstances & events on the

homefront during WWI. Rich

details and multiple examples

given.

Letters contain a complete

description of the

circumstances & events on the

homefront during WWI Clear

details and examples given.

Letters contain a basic

description of the

circumstances & events on the

homefront during WWI Few

details and examples given.

Letters contain a vague and/or

incomplete description of the

circumstances & events on the

homefront during WWI No

details or examples given.

Illustrations

Excellent, full-color,

hand-drawn illustrations that

clearly represent aspects of life

during the war, and enhance

the details of the letters.

Complete hand-drawn

illustrations that represent

aspects of life during the war,

and enhance the details of the

letters.

Minimal hand-drawn illustration

that represent some aspects of

life during the war.

Illustration that does not

represent life during the war.

-or- not hand-drawn

–or- no illustration

Cover Page

Title, name, class period, and

the date included, as well as

additional color illustration.

Title, name, class period, and

the date included

Some elements are missing

(Title, name, class period, or

the date)

Most elements are missing

(Title, name, class period, or

the date)

-or- no cover page

Project Self-Assessment

2 Letters from the

Perspective of a WWI

Soldier

Score (0-4)

Explanation: (using rubric language)

Teacher Evaluation:

2 Letters from the

Perspective of a WWI

Soldier’s Friend/Family

Member

Score (0-4)

Explanation: (using rubric language)

Teacher Evaluation:

Illustrations

Score (0-4)

Explanation: (using rubric language)

Teacher Evaluation:

Cover Page

Score (0-4)

Explanation: (using rubric language)

Teacher Evaluation: