1. "Stand-to" means soldiers would rise from their trenches and prepare for a potential German attack, typically at dawn or dusk, to be ready for any sudden assault.
2. Soldiers were waiting for the Germans to attack because they knew an offensive was imminent; the French had been preparing for weeks, and the Germans were known to launch attacks during these times.
3. Life in the trenches was miserable: soldiers lived in mud, slept in wet bedding, wore lice-infested uniforms, endured constant shelling, and faced the ever-present threat of death or injury.
4. The main jobs in the trenches included maintaining the trench lines, repairing damage from shelling, standing sentry duty, carrying supplies and ammunition, and preparing for attacks or defending against them.
5. The dark boots were useless because they were made of leather, which became waterlogged and heavy in the muddy conditions, making movement difficult and increasing the risk of trench foot.
6. A paper parachute (a small piece of paper attached to a stick) helped soldiers by acting as a visual indicator of wind direction, allowing them to adjust artillery fire or gas attacks accordingly.
7. Sandbags provided protection from bullets and shrapnel, absorbing the impact and preventing direct hits on soldiers. They also helped reinforce trench walls against collapse.
8. Breakfast consisted of bully beef (canned corned beef), hardtack biscuits, and tea — simple, non-perishable rations that could be stored and eaten quickly under combat conditions.
9. Soldiers volunteered for communication runs because it was one of the few ways to get away from the front line temporarily, offering a brief respite from constant danger and monotony.
10. The game is called “Over the Top” because it simulates the experience of going over the top of the trench into no man’s land during an attack — a moment when soldiers left the relative safety of the trench to charge across open ground toward enemy lines.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of war games worksheet answers.
