GCSE History - Warfare: The Battle of the Somme, 1916

This online lesson investigates the why the Battle of the Somme, and particularly the first day of the battle, were so devastating for the British Army. It also considers the importance of the battle in the wider context of WWI and whether or not those tragic losses achieved anything to help bring WWI closer to its end.
The lesson is designed to last between 1 hour and 1 and a half hours, depending on how many tasks are attempted.

This lesson has been designed to compliment the Edexcel Warfare and British Society c.1240-Present GCSE specification, but should be of use to anyone investigating the development of warfare.

Video Link:
1. Channel 4 docu-drama 'The Somme'. This is an excellent documentary based on real stories. It is realistic, though, and contains some violence and bad language, so consider its suitability before watching. The ten minutes starting at 45 minutes are a good section to watch to understand what went wrong when troops went 'over the top' on the first day.

2. The Battle of the Somme - Original 1916 documentary (silent film)