Doughboy boot camp tough simulation for Glen Crest 8th grade

The time, September, 1917: the place, Long Island, New York: the event, World War I: the purpose: Training Camp for Doughboys who are going to the frontline in France to fight.

With that information, eighth-graders at Glen Crest Middle School in Glen Ellyn concluded their study of World War I with an authentic boot camp, coordinated by their social studies teachers, Pat Doyle and Kris Casey.

With the help of the physical education department, led by Mary Wolski, Corey Toppel, Julie Breen and John Batiste, the entire eighth grade was put through a condensed version of a day in an army training camp.

Girls and boys participated and the physical tasks were demanding. Not only was there exercise, but an obstacle course was designed and every eighth-grader had to master it. They were informed about medical requirements, the French language, propaganda and French songs.

The United States entered Worl War I in April of 1917.

The eighth-graders experienced the tasks of training for the ‘Western Front.”

The curriculum was a month of study and the Doughboy simulation was the culminating event that wrapped up the information the students learned about war experience.

The two social studies teachers felt that with the current news available about the soldiers coming home from Iraq, the study of the history of war was more meaningful to the students.