Class Assembly Script: WWI

Written by Dan

Last updated

As a teacher, it’s always exciting when you get to lead your students in a special event. Class assemblies are the perfect way to educate and entertain them all at once.

Why not create a dynamic script about WWI to help make these events even more impactful? Engage their imaginations with vivid descriptions of trenches, mustering drums, clanking tanks – while instilling a sense of respect for the bravery and sacrifices those on the front lines made.

With this resource guide as your foundation, create an unforgettable class assembly about World War I that will inspire your students!

Related: For more, check out our Class Assembly Script for WWII  here.

Title: The Great War: A Year 6 Class Assembly

Characters:

  1. Narrator 1
  2. Narrator 2
  3. Narrator 3
  4. Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Ferdinand)
  5. Gavrilo Princip (Gavrilo)
  6. Soldier 1 (British)
  7. Soldier 2 (German)
  8. General Haig (British General)
  9. Nurse Edith
  10. Reporter 1
  11. Reporter 2
  12. Emmeline Pankhurst (Emmeline)
  13. Suffragette 1
  14. Suffragette 2
  15. Prime Minister David Lloyd George (Lloyd George)
  16. King George V
  17. Kaiser Wilhelm II
  18. Tsar Nicholas II
  19. French President Raymond Poincaré
  20. Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando
  21. American President Woodrow Wilson
  22. Australian Soldier
  23. Canadian Soldier
  24. Indian Soldier
  25. New Zealander Soldier
  26. South African Soldier
  27. Ottoman Empire Soldier
  28. Belgian Soldier
  29. Serbian Soldier
  30. Russian Soldier

Props

  1. World map
  2. Toy guns for soldiers and Gavrilo
  3. Paper with headlines for the reporters
  4. Nurse cap for Nurse Edith
  5. Suffragette sashes for Emmeline, Suffragette 1, and Suffragette 2
  6. Podium for Lloyd George
  7. Crowns for King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Tsar Nicholas II
  8. Flags for the different countries
  9. Trench backdrop or scene setter
  10. Fake barbed wire for the trench setting
  11. Military uniforms for soldiers and leaders
  12. Period clothing for non-military characters
  13. Fake mustaches for various male characters
  14. Prop binoculars for General Haig
  15. Medical supplies (e.g., bandages, stethoscope) for Nurse Edith
  16. A table or desk for the reporters
  17. Notebooks and pens for the reporters
  18. Megaphone or speaker’s horn for Suffragettes
  19. Signboards with slogans for Suffragettes
  20. Chairs for leaders during the Treaty of Versailles scene

[Stage is set with a large world map in the center, and characters standing around it.]

Narrator 1: Welcome to our Year 6 class assembly about World War I. Today, we will take you back in time to the early 20th century when a series of events led to one of the most devastating wars in history.

[Spotlight on Ferdinand and Gavrilo]

Ferdinand: I am Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. My assassination on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo sparked the beginning of World War I. I was traveling with my wife, Sophie, when Gavrilo Princip, a young Bosnian Serb, shot us both. Our deaths triggered a series of alliances, ultimately leading to the start of the war.

Gavrilo: And I am Gavrilo Princip, the man who assassinated him. I was part of the Black Hand group, which sought to free Serbia from Austro-Hungarian rule. We were fighting for our people’s freedom, but little did we know that our actions would lead to a war that would claim millions of lives.

Narrator 2: After the assassination, countries began to take sides, forming two opposing alliances – the Allies, which included Russia, France, and the United Kingdom, and the Central Powers, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

[Spotlight on the leaders of the different countries]

Narrator 3: The leaders of these countries played a significant role in shaping the course of the war. They made crucial decisions that affected millions of lives.

[Each leader steps forward and introduces themselves and their reasons for fighting]

King George V: I am King George V of the United Kingdom. We entered the war to honor our alliance with Belgium and to protect Europe’s delicate balance of power. Our soldiers fought with great courage, enduring the hardships of trench warfare and the loss of many comrades.

Kaiser Wilhelm II: I am Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. We were fighting to defend our territory and assert our dominance in Europe. We believed that the Allies sought to limit our power and influence. Our soldiers faced grueling conditions on the front lines, battling the enemy, hunger, and disease.

Tsar Nicholas II: I am Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. We were fighting to protect our Slavic brethren in Serbia and to maintain our influence in the Balkans. Our vast country suffered heavy losses, and our soldiers displayed incredible resilience in the face of adversity.

Raymond Poincaré: I am Raymond Poincaré, President of France. We fought to reclaim the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, which we had lost to Germany in a previous war. Our soldiers endured the horrors of trench warfare, but they fought valiantly to defend our homeland.

Vittorio Orlando: I am Vittorio Orlando, Prime Minister of Italy. We initially joined the Central Powers but later switched sides to join the Allies. We hoped to gain territory and prestige through our participation in the war. Our soldiers faced harsh mountain warfare and bitter cold as they fought along the Italian Front.

Woodrow Wilson: I am Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States. We entered the war in 1917 to make the world “safe for democracy” and to protect our economic interests. Our soldiers, known as Doughboys, fought bravely alongside their Allies, helping to bring an end to the conflict.

Narrator 1: Soldiers from all around the world fought in the Great War. They came from different backgrounds and cultures but shared a common experience of hardship and bravery.

[Spotlight on the soldiers from different countries]

Australian Soldier: I am an Australian soldier, fighting alongside my fellow countrymen in the ANZAC forces. We fought to protect our land and support our British allies. Our soldiers faced the challenges of the Gallipoli campaign, where we suffered heavy losses but gained a reputation for courage and endurance.

Canadian Soldier: I am a Canadian soldier, proud to represent my country in this time of need. We fought to support our British allies and to defend our shared values of freedom and democracy. Our soldiers played a crucial role in key battles such as Vimy Ridge, where we demonstrated our fighting prowess and earned international recognition.

Indian Soldier: I am an Indian soldier, fighting for the British Empire. We fought for various reasons – some out of loyalty to the Empire, some for adventure, and others for economic reasons. Our soldiers served in multiple theaters of the war, from Europe to Africa, displaying great courage and determination.

New Zealander Soldier: I am a New Zealander soldier, standing with my ANZAC brothers. We fought to serve our British allies and to defend our homeland. Our soldiers endured the hardships of the Gallipoli campaign, where we built a strong bond with our Australian comrades and gained a reputation for our tenacity and bravery.

South African Soldier: I am a South African soldier, fighting for the Allies. We fought to support our British allies and to protect our own interests in Africa. Our soldiers faced unique challenges, such as combating German colonial forces in East Africa, and contributed significantly to the war effort.

Ottoman Empire Soldier: I am a Ottoman Empire soldier supporting the Central Powers. We fought to protect our empire from external threats and to maintain our territorial integrity. Our soldiers faced numerous challenges, including fighting on multiple fronts and dealing with limited resources.

Belgian Soldier: I am a Belgian soldier, defending my homeland from invasion. We fought to protect our sovereignty and to resist German occupation. Our soldiers were known for their resilience and determination, as they held out against the invading forces for several crucial months.

Serbian Soldier: I am a Serbian soldier, fighting for my country’s freedom. We fought against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which sought to dominate our region. Our soldiers faced numerous hardships, including a brutal retreat through the mountains of Albania, but we never gave up our fight for independence.

Russian Soldier: I am a Russian soldier, battling on the Eastern Front. We fought to protect our Slavic brethren in Serbia and to maintain our influence in the Balkans. Our soldiers faced extreme conditions, such as freezing temperatures and harsh terrain, but we continued to fight until the Russian Revolution forced our withdrawal from the war.

Narrator 2: The war was fought on several fronts, but the most famous was the Western Front, where soldiers dug trenches and fought in terrible conditions.

[Spotlight on General Haig]

General Haig: I am General Haig, commander of the British forces. I ordered the Battle of the Somme in 1916, which resulted in over one million casualties. It was a tragedy, but we believed it was necessary to break the stalemate. Our soldiers displayed incredible bravery and resilience, despite the unimaginable horrors they faced in the trenches.

[Spotlight on Nurse Edith]

Nurse Edith: I am Nurse Edith Cavell, and I cared for the wounded soldiers on both sides of the conflict. I saw firsthand the horrors of war and the bravery of those who fought. I worked tirelessly to save lives, often putting my own safety at risk. Ultimately, I was arrested by the Germans and executed for helping Allied soldiers escape occupied Belgium.

Narrator 3: As the war dragged on, its impact was felt not just on the battlefield but also at home.

[Spotlight on Reporter 1 and Reporter 2]

Reporter 1: I am a newspaper reporter, and I informed the public about the war’s progress. However, the government often censored our stories to maintain morale. I tried my best to convey the realities of the war, but it was difficult to truly capture the hardships faced by the soldiers and their families.

Reporter 2: I am another reporter, covering stories about the home front and the sacrifices made by families during the war. I reported on rationing, women working in factories, and the emotional toll the war took on those left behind. It was important to highlight the resilience and strength of our communities during these challenging times.

[Spotlight on Emmeline, Suffragette 1, and Suffragette 2]

Emmeline: I am Emmeline Pankhurst, a suffragette who fought for women’s right to vote. During the war, many women took on jobs traditionally held by men, proving our capabilities and contributing to the war effort. We worked in factories, as nurses, and even as drivers and mechanics. The war opened new opportunities for women and helped us gain the right to vote.

Suffragette 1: I am a fellow suffragette, working in a munitions factory to support the war effort. We faced long hours and dangerous working conditions, but we were determined to contribute to our nation’s cause. Our work helped supply the soldiers with the weapons they needed to fight.

Suffragette 2: And I am another suffragette, serving as a nurse and tending to the wounded. I cared for soldiers from both sides, witnessing the devastating effects of the war firsthand. Despite the heartbreak and challenges, I was proud to serve and provide comfort to those in need.

Narrator 1: Finally, in 1918, an armistice was signed, ending the fighting.

[Spotlight on Lloyd George]

Lloyd George: I am Prime Minister David Lloyd George. After the war, we signed the Treaty of Versailles, which placed blame and harsh penalties on Germany. We hoped to prevent future conflicts, but sadly, the seeds of another war had been planted.

Narrator 4: For those who fought, it was a time of sorrow and celebration. They had witnessed death, destruction, and unimaginable horrors. But they had also emerged victorious, standing together with their comrades worldwide. They would never forget what they had endured in the Great War. We must remember their courage and sacrifice.

Narrator 5: This concludes our interactive tour of the Great War and its soldiers. We hope you have gained a greater appreciation for those who fought, and for the legacy of courage they left behind. Thank you for honouring their memory with us today.

The class assembly script we outlined in this article gives a simple, straightforward plan for the students to follow either independently or as a part of a group.

Not only is it an opportunity to learn about WWI, but it also encourages the students to be creative and think outside the box. Above all else, we hope this article has shown you that history can still be engaging and relevant for young learners. 

To get inspired further, take a look at some of our other articles which discuss ways to encourage student inquiry into war-time history in interactive and inspiring ways. From studying memoirs of soldiers on the frontlines to investigating artifacts from long-lost time periods, there are plenty of great options out there!

So don’t be afraid to go outside conventional teaching methods – an interesting class assembly script like ours might just be the perfect way to start your journey with bringing WWII history to life in your classroom.

About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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