History GCSE Medicine Edexcel KT5 L4 Injuries and Illnesses Western Front (Fully Resourced).
This fully resourced lesson explores the range of illnesses and injuries soldiers suffered on the Western Front, including trench fever, trench foot, shell shock, gas attacks, and wounds from shrapnel and bullets. Students learn the content through structured practice on the ‘Describe two features’, 4-mark follow-up enquiry, and 8-mark usefulness exam questions. No textbook required.

Lesson content (step by step):

Do Now retrieval: recap quiz on trench layout, terrain, and conditions from previous lessons. Students correct their answers in full sentences.

Starter discussion: pupils are shown an image of soldiers with trench foot and asked “What does this suggest about the dangers of trench conditions?”

Mini-teach on illnesses and injuries:

Trench foot – caused by standing in cold, muddy water; led to swelling, gangrene, amputations.

Trench fever – spread by lice, caused flu-like symptoms; affected half a million soldiers.

Shell shock – psychological strain of constant bombardment; symptoms included shaking, nightmares, breakdown.

Gas attacks – chlorine, phosgene, mustard gas; caused suffocation, burns, blindness.

Bullet and shrapnel wounds – high-velocity bullets and shell fragments caused deep, infected injuries.

Table activity: students complete a grid of illness/injury → causes → symptoms → treatments (if any).

2 features exam practice:

Example question: “Describe two features of illnesses suffered by soldiers on the Western Front.”

Teacher models one full answer (e.g. trench foot), then pupils complete with their own examples.

4-mark follow-up practice:

Source provided (e.g. medical officer’s report on lice or gas).

Students apply the 4-part structure: detail, question, source type, how it helps.

Scaffolding includes prompts for realistic sources (medical records, government statistics, soldier diaries).

8-mark usefulness practice:

Pupils assess a source (e.g. trench diary describing shell shock) for usefulness in studying conditions and illnesses.

Teacher models balanced answer considering what the source shows, limitations, and provenance.

Pupils write their own structured response.

Plenary reflection: pupils rank which illness or injury posed the greatest challenge for doctors on the Western Front and justify their choice in one sentence.