CANORA - Students in the History 20 class at Canora Composite School recently showcased their Trench Warfare Museum diorama projects.
Olivia Gordon, the class’ teacher, said it was, “a fun and engaging project to demonstrate their understanding of the First World War.”
Students from other grades viewed the dioramas on Oct. 2, and read the information and observations provided by the History 20 students with their projects.
“This exercise allowed them to be creative and hands-on while learning about an important period in history,” said Gordon.
Prior to starting the project, the students discussed the First World War in class and were given instructions on how to proceed.
“The Germans fought against the French on the Western Front, while the Russians battled against the Germans on the Eastern Front. You and your partner (or you can work independently if you choose) are going to recreate this trench system using shoe boxes. It is important to remember the basic outline of a trench. Once you are ready to hit the trenches, I want you to have fun with this project and use your imagination. Be creative!” encouraged Gordon.
For each diorama, students were provided with toy soldiers, and then find other items to make the end result look as realistic as possible. For most, it took anywhere from five to nine hours to complete their projects.
Students Callie Berehula surrounded their soldiers with a diorama that included egg cartons, popsicle sticks, clay and paint. The duo provided written observations with their project to encourage discussion with visiting students and staff.
“As you take a look at our trench diorama, you'll notice the muddy walls that create the trench. They dug long and deep paths and called them trenches. The walls are just dirt and sometimes with sandbags and wood included for a little bit more protection. These trenches were often filled with stagnant water, turning the ground into a quagmire that made movement difficult and contributed to the infamous trench foot problem.”
The diorama presented by Savannah Mirva and Tia Bushell was created by Mirva with cardboard, cloth, popsicle sticks, hot glue, and paint, as well as cotton to simulate the difficult conditions faced by soldiers in the trenches in winter. They said it was interesting to talk to students from other grades about the harsh realities of war, and included memories of trench warfare shared by a young German soldier for visitors to read.
“We woke up in the middle of the night. The earth booms. Heavy fire is falling on us. We crouch into corners. We distinguish shells of every caliber. The dugout heaves, the night roars and flashes.”
Connor Kraynick completed his diorama using dead grass, dirt, popsicle sticks and cardboard, and also added smashed up glass from an old CD case.
“This diorama has many details and elements that could be found in any trench in the First World War. These details include artillery and weapons, wooden barricades, broken pieces of wood, branches and shrubs to act as camouflage, broken glass, stray pieces of metal, and a dugout. A dugout is like a hole in the side of the wall of the trench big enough for many troops to sleep in. And to top it all off, fighting in the trenches had a great psychological impact on the soldiers. Mortar bombs, shrapnel, or grenades could randomly hit someone in the trench and instantly kill them; you could be talking to someone and in an instant, then they could be gone.”
Rhett Ludba and Ty Sleeva joined forces to construct a diorama out of scrap wire, garden dirt, and popsicle sticks to surround the soldiers. They observed that “The trenches had a huge impact on the First World War, shaping the way battles were fought. Living in trenches was a test of endurance. The constant exposure to rats and mud made the trenches muddy and unsanitary. Soldiers often suffered from trench foot, which is a painful condition caused by lengthy exposure to wet and cold conditions. Rats infested the trenches, feeding on the remains of fallen soldiers and causing further distress such as when they would wake up and there was a rat on the soldier’s chest, looking at him.”
The diorama created by Alaina Roebuck included clay, moss, dirt, sticks and paint, along with a miniature tank, She observed that tanks were a new British development during the First War, and gave the Brits a powerful advantage. “Mustard gas is another example I have shown in my diorama. In 1915, Germany had created a poisonous gas which would choke out and blind its victims, even becoming fatal at more severe times. Later on, soldiers were given gas masks to be prepared for the gas attacks.”
Makayla Heshka and Sofia Tratch made their diorama out of shoe boxes, rocks, dirt, clay, fake moss and popsicle sticks, with different-coloured soldiers creating a realistic battle scene- red German soldiers, silver Russian soldiers, and green French and British soldiers. They said they put a lot of time and effort into making the display look messy, because that was reality for soldiers involved in trench warfare.
“The elements in our trench and battlefield were rats, barbed wire, signs within the trenches, gas masks, cigarettes, rationed food, letters, etc. Rats were considered be a great pest down in the trenches because they'd chew on people's few belongings and spread diseases. Any diseases spread from unhealthy living areas and animals made the soldiers get harsh viruses and fevers caused by bacteria. Lice and insects were sources of illnesses.”
The trench warfare diorama project was open for viewing by Grade 5-12 students and staff of CCS on Oct. 2. Each could vote for their favourite project, with 255 votes cast.
The diorama by Hunter Scheltgen was the winner with 45 votes. Briel Beblow and Matthew Makowsky finished second with 17 votes. There was a tie for third with 16 votes between Ava Love and Jessee Kopelchuk, and Chloe Pshyk, Aurora Mickelson and Jayelle Rostotski.
“To say I am impressed with the work my students completed is an understatement,” said Olivia Gordon, teacher. “They worked efficiently and surpassed my expectations.
“The students knew there was a prize of an extra five per cent in their grade for the group/individual with the most votes so the stakes were high!”
Gordon said she hopes the History 20 Trench Warfare Museum project has a lasting effect on the participants.
“As many of the dioramas portrayed, the trenches were often filled with mud, water, and human waste. Soldiers had to deal with rats, lice, and other animals, which spread disease and infection. Soldiers slept in cramped quarters and had limited access to food and clean water. Despite these horrendous living conditions, the soldiers preserved and fought for their countries. I hope my students took the time to actually understand what they were building, the impact trenches had on the First World War, and the sacrifices of the soldiers who fought.”
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