WWI Alliances- Fun way to learn about them

This looks like a lot of fun - and it wouldn't require much prior knowledge on the part of the students!  Todd Nussen  it seems right up your alley too:)

I've always used the Interconnected World - WWI lesson in my 1750 class, have you tried that yet?

This is a great option with easier set-up though, if I can't squeeze that in!  Thanks, I'll definitely be saving it.

I use the slides first, you can see I have a cue in the slides for this activity, and I do tell those who I select to read that they really need to pay attention.  I use achievement stickers in my class. So they all know there is no sticker coming to them if they don't ham it up.  There is sometimes on who doesn't pay attention. So I also have a full sheet near me to keep track of where we're at and re-read the cue if necessary.  You could also use the full sheet to write down the names of who you gave the country slips to. Julianne Horowitz 

Bryan Dibble , thanks for sharing this one! I haven't seen it before but it is definitely a more engaging way to start a discussion on WWI.

Bryan, thank for the share.  Julie, thanks for tagging me.  You know me well, this is right up my alley.  Definitely going to try it out (even as just part of an activity).  I wish there were more activities like this for other units.  You might have inspired me a bit to work on one this year OR challenge students to work on their own.  

Love the idea of kids designing their own similar to this on different issues.  Might be a cool idea for my government class actually!  Todd Nussen 

The goal would be students writing their own but I also just like the idea of additional simulations similar to this.  Seems like something that could be used for the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, etc. 

Thank you for sharing these resources,  Bryan Dibble ! Any tips on breaking the ice pre in class performance? 

I love this, I think it really shows the chaos of it all to have it performed. Question: I notice that it's laid out so that each country is broken down and then it says what each country has to say - would it be simpler if it was just in order and then everyone had the same script, or would that take all of the suspense out of it and willingness to listen? I am always trying to strike a balance between making things spontaneous and fun and also making them clear and accessible, and sometimes I think I end up making things boring.

Adriane Musacchio I had not really thought of that- but now you mention it, yes, there has to be some ground work laid down.  I'm a total goofball in my class most of the time, and so my students tend to get silly too (in a good way) - so having never done this alliance skit at the beginning of the term, guess it's sort of natural.  But giving the first set of countries on the list to the most animated kids would get you the results.  Maybe it's a good idea to do a practice run with some other subject in the weeks prior to set it all up.  I've had hic ups in this activity of course many times, but the re-sets and "WHO HAS SOUTH AMERICA??" reminders don't take away from the point of how the dominos fall regarding the alliances prior to the Great War.

Freda Anderson Going back to what others have thought, this could be done with each line going to a pair of students who can work together to add something to each statement.  The pairing also would insure each statement isn't missed.  I've always liked the reaction I get when the students start to realize the surprise that must have been real for the world's countries to see how these secret alliances were unfolding.  I try to spread out the roles across the room if possible so the statements are popping up from every direction.  I've always used it as an opener to the main lessons on WWI, right after I cover the spark for the war.  I'd sure love to see how others make something like this work.  Let us know how it goes.