

Podcast Title: Stuff For Kids
Episode Title: World War 1
Teaching Resources & Lesson Plans (Coming Soon)
---
[INTRO]
(Upbeat music fades in)
Host (Sam):
Hey there, curious kids! Welcome back to "Stuff For Kids," the podcast where we dive into amazing stories about the world and beyond.
Now before we get started, I just wanted to quickly say that I am new to this whole podcast thing, and while I’m having lots of fun researching and sharing all this awesome information, I would also love to hear any feedback you have! If you’d like to make any comments or suggestions, or if you have a topic you would like to hear about, please send me an email at stuffforkidspodcast@gmail.com. I’d love to hear your suggestions and ideas!
So today, we’re going on a journey back in time to explore one of the biggest, most important events in history. It’s a little more serious than some of our other topics, but it’s full of bravery, teamwork, and lessons that still matter today. Yep, you guessed it—we’re talking about World War 1, also known as “The Great War.”
(Pause for effect)
This war involved many countries around the world, and it changed the course of history. Millions of soldiers fought in it, and millions of people back home were affected too. In today’s episode, we’ll learn about how it started, what it was like to be a soldier in the trenches, Australia’s important role in the war, and how people back home helped out.
And just like all our episodes, we’ll fill it with cool facts, surprising stories, and a whole lot of inspiration! Ready to step back into history? Let’s go!
(Music fades out)
---
[SECTION 1: What Was World War 1?]
Host:
Okay, so what exactly was World War 1? Well, it was a massive war that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It’s called a “world war” because so many countries were involved—Europe, Africa, Asia, and even Australia! In fact, more than 65 million soldiers from around the world fought in World War 1. That’s like more than twice the population of Australia today!
There were two major groups fighting in the war. The first group was called the Allied Powers, which included countries like Britain, France, Russia, and later the United States. Australia fought on this side too because we were part of the British Empire. On the other side were the Central Powers, which included countries like Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey).
But even though these countries were already on edge, it wasn’t until one major event happened that everything exploded into a full-scale war.
---
[SECTION 2: How It All Started]
Host:
So, how did such a huge, global war get started? Well, it all began with an event that sounds like something out of a spy movie. Imagine this: It’s June 28, 1914, in a place called Sarajevo, which is in the country of Bosnia. A man named Archduke Franz Ferdinand—the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary—was visiting the city with his wife, Sophie. Suddenly, while they were riding in their car, they were both shot by a man named Gavrilo Princip. He was part of a group that wanted independence for his people.
(Dramatic tone)
This one assassination set off a chain reaction. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia, where the assassin was from, and declared war on them. But because all these countries had alliances—kind of like promises to help each other—soon, many other countries were dragged into the fight. Austria-Hungary’s allies, like Germany, jumped in, and Serbia’s allies, like Russia, joined too. Within just weeks, almost all of Europe was at war.
---
[SECTION 3: Australia Joins the Fight]
Host:
Now, let’s talk about Australia. You might be wondering, “How did a country on the other side of the world get involved in a war happening in Europe?” Well, Australia was part of the British Empire, which meant that when Britain declared war on Germany, Australia automatically joined in to help.
And Australians were eager to go. Many people saw it as a way to prove themselves. Remember, Australia had only been an official country for about 13 years at that point, since we became a federation in 1901. So, when the war started, there was a strong sense of patriotism—many young men wanted to fight for King and Country.
Over 400,000 Australians signed up to serve in the war. That might not sound like a lot today, but back then, Australia’s population was only around 5 million people! That means almost 1 in 10 Australians joined the army.
---
[SECTION 4: What Was Conscription?]
Host:
Now, even though many Australians volunteered, there was a lot of talk about something called conscription. So, what’s that? Well, conscription is when people are forced to join the army, whether they want to or not. In 1916 and 1917, the Australian government tried to introduce conscription because more soldiers were needed, but this idea wasn’t very popular.
A lot of people were against it. Some people thought that forcing men to fight in such a terrible war wasn’t fair, while others believed it was necessary to win the war. In fact, Australia held two big votes—called referendums—to decide if conscription should be introduced. And guess what? Both times, the majority of Australians voted “no.” This meant that unlike some other countries, Australia relied mostly on volunteers who chose to join.
---
[SECTION 5: The Life of a Soldier
Host:
So, what was it like to be a soldier in World War 1? Well, it wasn’t all glory and heroism like you might see in movies. Life for the soldiers was extremely hard, especially because of something called trench warfare.
(Sound effect: digging)
Trenches were long, narrow ditches that soldiers dug to protect themselves from enemy fire. The trenches stretched for hundreds of kilometers across Europe, and soldiers lived in these trenches for months at a time. Imagine living in a muddy, wet ditch, with rats crawling around, barely any food, and bombs going off above your head. Sounds pretty tough, right?
In winter, it was freezing cold, and in summer, it was boiling hot. Sometimes the rain would turn the trenches into a muddy swamp, and soldiers would get a disease called trench foot, where their feet would get swollen and sore from being wet all the time. Plus, the soldiers were constantly worried about enemy attacks, and the loud noises from the artillery (which are big, booming guns) would keep them on edge.
---
[SECTION 6: The Gallipoli Campaign – Australia’s Most Famous Battle]
Host:
One of the most famous battles that Australians were involved in during World War 1 was the Gallipoli Campaign. This took place in 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. The aim of the campaign was to capture key positions and eventually knock Turkey (part of the Central Powers) out of the war. But things didn’t go as planned.
On April 25, 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers—known as the ANZACs—landed on the beaches of Gallipoli. The plan was to quickly advance inland, but the cliffs were steep, and the Turkish soldiers were ready. The ANZACs faced heavy fire from above, and the battle quickly turned into a long and difficult struggle. They fought for eight months, and despite their bravery and determination, the campaign was unsuccessful. Many soldiers lost their lives or were wounded.
(Somber tone)
But even though the campaign didn’t succeed, the courage and mateship of the ANZACs became legendary. ANZAC Day, which is celebrated on April 25th every year, is now a day to remember all the brave soldiers who fought for Australia and New Zealand, not just in Gallipoli but in all wars. And to remember and thank them for their service to keep Australia safe and free.
Here’s an interesting fact: 8,709 Australians and 2,721 New Zealanders lost their lives during the Gallipoli Campaign. It was a tragic loss, but it also marked a moment when Australia started to form its own identity on the world stage.
---
[SECTION 7: The Western Front – Australia's Involvement]
Host:
Gallipoli wasn’t the only place where Australian soldiers fought. After Gallipoli, many Australian soldiers were sent to the Western Front in Europe. This is where some of the fiercest battles of World War 1 took place, in places like France and Belgium. The Western Front was a series of trenches that stretched for 700 kilometers.
Australia played a major role here. In fact, the Battle of the Somme, which took place in 1916, was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, and Australian soldiers were right in the middle of it. The AIF fought bravely in many battles, including Fromelles, Pozieres, and Villers-Bretonneux. These battles were extremely tough, with huge numbers of casualties, but Australian soldiers earned a reputation for being some of the toughest and most reliable troops in the war.
In total, around 60,000 Australians lost their lives during World War 1, and 156,000 were wounded, which is a huge number when you think about how small Australia’s population was at the time. It’s an incredibly sad, tragic and unneccessary loss that effected the entire country. There wasn’t a single person in Australia that wasn’t effected by the war in some way.
---
[SECTION 8: What Was It Like Back Home?]
Host:
Now, while the soldiers were off fighting in the trenches, life back in Australia was also changing. The war affected everyone, not just the soldiers on the front lines. Many families had fathers, brothers, and sons fighting overseas, and every day they would wait anxiously for news about their loved ones. Sometimes, letters would arrive from the soldiers, telling stories about what life was like in the trenches. But other times, heartbreaking news would come, letting families know that a loved one had been killed or wounded.
(Thoughtful tone)
The war didn’t just affect people emotionally; it also changed the way people lived. Australia had to support the war effort, which meant food, clothing, and other supplies were sent to the soldiers. Women played a huge role during the war, taking on jobs that men had left behind and working in factories to produce things like weapons and ammunition.
In addition to working, many women volunteered as nurses or joined organizations like the Red Cross, which helped provide medical supplies and care for injured soldiers. Some people at home also took part in something called war bonds, where they donated money to help pay for the war.
---
[SECTION 9: Animals in the War
Host:
And it wasn’t just people involved in the war—animals played a huge part too! Horses, dogs, and even pigeons were used to help the soldiers. Horses were especially important for transporting supplies and pulling heavy equipment. But the war was tough on animals too. Many horses didn’t survive the harsh conditions.
One of the most famous animals in the war was a pigeon named Cher Ami. This brave little bird helped save nearly 200 soldiers by flying through dangerous areas to deliver a message that called for help. Even though Cher Ami was badly injured, she managed to deliver the message, and the soldiers were rescued.
One of the most well known Australian stories of a Soldier and animal is Sampson and his donkey. Private Sampson was at ANZAC cove in Gallipoli and although he died only 4 weeks after the troops landed, he saved countless lives in the time he was on those beaches. Sampson didn’t carry a weapon, instead, he and his donkey worked day and night, bravely carried wounded soldiers back from the front lines so that they could be treated and cared for. He continually braved the dangerous front lines where there was constant enemy fire, to pick up the wounded men and bring them back to safety.
---
[SECTION 10: The End of the War and Remembrance
Host:
By 1918, after four long years of fighting, the countries involved in World War 1 were exhausted. Millions of people had died, and entire towns and cities were destroyed. Finally, on November 11, 1918, the fighting stopped. This day is now known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. Every year on November 11th, people stop for a moment of silence at 11 a.m. to remember the soldiers who fought and died in the war.
World War 1 was called “The War to End All Wars” because people hoped that nothing so terrible would ever happen again. Unfortunately, history had other plans, and just 21 years later, World War 2 began. But the lessons from World War 1 are still important today. It showed us how valuable peace is and why it’s important to work together to solve problems without fighting.
---
[SECTION 11: Lessons From World War 1]
Host:
So, what can we learn from World War 1? Well, first of all, we can learn about the incredible bravery and sacrifice of the people who fought. Many of them were just like us—they had families, friends, and dreams. But they put everything on the line to protect their countries and their way of life. Australia’s involvement in the war showed the world that we’re a country that values mateship, courage, and perseverance.
We can also learn how important it is to remember those who came before us. That’s why days like ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day are so important. They give us a chance to pause, reflect, and say “thank you” to the people who fought for our freedom.
---
[OUTRO]
(Uplifting music fades in)
Host:
And that, my friends, is the story of World War 1. It’s a story full of bravery, hardship, and important lessons that still matter today. I hope you learned something new and feel inspired by the courage of those who came before us. Remember, history isn’t just about the past—it’s about the stories that can help us become better, kinder, and stronger people today.
Don’t forget - if you have any ideas, comments or suggestions - please reach out via email at stuffforkidspodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through history! Be sure to subscribe to "Stuff For Kids" for more awesome episodes about history, science, and so much more. I’ll catch you next time!
(Upbeat music fades out)