This is a very popular assignment for students as they get to watch a documentary about gangs in LA. The activity requires students to use higher order thinking skills in order to make the connections between the main causes of WWI and the conditions of life in gang territory in LA. Having students think about the similarities and differences between topics is one of the most effective instructional strategies to increase student academic success.
This assignment has also gained a lot of interest from my administration and instructional leaders.
You will be very surprised by the connections students make between the two. It is best to complete this assignment after students have a concrete understanding of the main causes of WWI.