UNIT TITLE: World War II

Author: Jenny L. Rice-Greene


School:  Evergreen Park Community High School: Evergreen Park, IL

School Home Page URL: www.evergreenpark.org

THEME :   The World at War

BROAD CONCEPT: Empire Building, Science, Economics, and Technology

GRADE Levels: Grades 9-12

INTEGRATED SUBJECTS: World History, U.S. History, Geography, English, Technology

UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this unit is to understand the actions of Hitler set off World War II.  The result of the war still affects the politics and economics of today’s world.  World War II established the United States as a leading player in international affairs and allowed the United States to become a world leader.  World War II set up conditions for both the Cold War and today’s post-Cold War world.  Finally for students to understand the violence against the Jews during the Holocaust is still impacting families and cultures of today.  The goals in this unit are for students to develop life-long learning skills, such as, reading and researching information, categorizing and analyzing information, interpreting maps, access information using technology, problem solving, communicating, and working together as a team.  

TIME FRAME:          10 days or 2 weeks; 55 minute classes

OBJECTIVES:

In this lesson, students will:


MATERIALS:                                              


__Desktop Publishing- (ex. Print Artist)           x_ Brainstorming (ex.Inspiration)

_x_Word Processing (ex. MS Word)               __Spreadsheet (ex. Cruncher)

_x_CD-ROM Encyclopedia (ex. Encarta)    __ Database (ex. MS Works)

_x_ Multimedia (Power Point)                  __Other software pertaining to unit
 
 

STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:


English Language Arts

 

C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.

1.C.4a             Use questions and predictions to guide reading.

1.C.4b             Explain and justify an interpretation of a text.

1.C.4c              Interpret, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources to other situations (e.g., academic, vocational, technical, personal).

1.C.4d             Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.

1.C.4e             Analyze how authors and illustrators use text and art to express and emphasize their ideas (e.g., imagery, multiple points of view).

1.C.4f                     Interpret tables, graphs and maps in conjunction with related text.

 

B. Read and interpret a variety of literary works.

2.B.4a             Critique ideas and impressions generated by oral, visual, written and electronic materials.

2.B.4b             Analyze form, content, purpose and major themes of American literature and literature of other countries in their historical perspectives.

2.B.4c              Discuss and evaluate motive, resulting behavior and consequences demonstrated in literature.

 

B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.

5.B.4a             Choose and evaluate primary and secondary sources (print and nonprint) for a variety of purposes.

5.B.4b             Use multiple sources and multiple formats; cite according to standard style manuals.

 

C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

5.C.4a             Plan, compose, edit and revise information (e.g., brochures, formal reports, proposals, research summaries, analyses, editorials, articles, overheads, multimedia displays) for presentation to an audience.

5.C.4b             Produce oral presentations and written documents using supportive research and incorporating contemporary technology

 

Social Sciences


A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation.

16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

16.A.4b Compare competing historical interpretations of an event.

 

B. Understand the development of significant political events.

16.B.4a           (W) Identify political ideas that began during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment and that persist today (e.g., church/state relationships).

16.B.4b           (W) Identify political ideas from the early modern historical era to the present which have had worldwide impact

 

D. Understand Illinois, United States and world social history.

16.D.4             (W) Identify significant events and developments since 1500 that altered world social history in ways that persist today including colonization, Protestant Reformation, industrialization, the rise of technology and human rights movements. 

 

B. Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society.

18.B.4             Analyze various forms of institutions (e.g., educational, military, charitable, governmental).

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGAGED LEARNING:

Activity 1:       Students will create a timeline on the major events during World War II using Microsoft Word.  The students need to have events in chronological order, date each event, and who or what occurred during that particular event.  The teacher will give the events to the students.  This particular assignment will be saved on their disk.

 

Activity 2:       Students will locate a European and Asian map off the Internet to use for their outlined maps.  These Internet maps will be used as a resource to complete the Pacific and European theatres of World War II.  These maps will be used as references throughout this unit.  The students will label and color in the countries involved (designating allies, axis, and neutral countries with a particular color).  Finally these maps will be used later to illustrate major campaigns and battles of WW II at a later date. 

 

Activity 3:       Students will summarize the causes of World War II and create cause and effect chart with a partner.  Students will use their textbooks and the Internet to decipher what were the major events that caused WWII.  Students then will share their beliefs on the causes of WWII with the rest of the class, in a group discussion format.  Student will then create a chart on the causes and effects of WWII using Microsoft word.  The students will then each save a copy of their chart on to their disk..  Students will watch “20th Century; America’s Time” to review the causes of World War II on the video projector.

 

Activity 4:       Students will create trading cards on a particular country’s involvement in World War II.  With a partner students will create a picture of the country using Kid Pix Studio one side.  The other side of the trading card will have statistical information about the country.  The information only pertains to WWII and what occurred to that country.  This information can be acquired form their books and the Internet.  An example statistical report would include what were the reasons for attacking, when it fell, did the country remain neutral, when were they liberated, how they supported the war effort etc….  Students will then present their trading cards to their classmates and trade the information.  This particular assignment will be saved on their disk.   

 

Activity 5:       Students will research the advancements in technology and how these technologies affect the course of World War II.  Students will break into groups of four and research one of the following technologies; radar, jet propulsion, decoding devices, rockets, and atomic bomb using the Internet.  Groups should trace the development of these technologies, how they were used, and their effectiveness.  Student reports should focus on the impact of the technologies on the course of the war for both the Allied and Axis powers.  Students groups will present their findings to the class for discussion.

 

Activity 6:       Students will create a front page of a newspaper using a World War II Web Quest.  Students will use the information provided from the Web Quest and write about a particular battle, new technology used during that year, women’s role, and a personal story about a particular soldier.  This particular assignment will be saved on their disk.

 

Activity 7:       Students will make a biography on a Holocaust survivor.  Using the Internet, the students will write a personal profile on a Holocaust survivor and present it to the class using Power Point.

 

Activity 8:       The students will create a Venn diagram illustrating Pearl Harbor and September 11, 2001, using Microsoft Word.  Students will compare the similarities and differences of these two events through a Venn diagram.  Also, the students will place another circle on the diagram that represents the attitudes of Americans on these two events.  Students will be shown a movie clip from “Pearl Harbor” that pertains to the attack on Pearl Harbor.  This particular assignment will be saved to their disk.

 

Activity 9:       Students will brainstorm the aftermath of WWII using Inspiration in groups of 3.  Students will focus on 3 main areas, political, social, and economic changes that affected the world after WWII.  Each student will create a concept web, using Microsoft Word, that illustrates the impact WWII had on world in political, social, and economic terms.  Each group will save the group’s concept web to their own disk.

           

Activity 10:     The assignments that were saved to a disk will be used to create an electronic portfolio.  Time will be given to students to complete their electronic portfolios.  This electronic portfolio will need additional features, such as, a title page, music / animations and a reflection essay on World War II.

                                This Portfolio will be judged by the following criteria:

                        Requirements:

                        5 of 6 assignments in portfolio                                  200 points

                        Title Page                                                                   25 points

                        Transitions, music or pictures/animations               50 points

                        Reflective Essay on WWII                                         100 points

                        Organization                                                              25 points

                        Presentation of Power Points                                   100 points

                                                                                                            500 points = Total

 

Activity 11:     The presentation of the classes electronic portfolios.

                       


SHARE YOUR IDEAS:

The presentation of the electronic portfolio will be given to the class using a Power Point slide show.  They will narrate their own

presentations and be graded using the rubric above.  Students will also observe their fellow classmates electronic portfolios and may have the option to edit their portfolios.

   

STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES:
Teacher’s Role:         The teacher will provide the necessary information and equipment needed to complete all activities and the final electronic    portfolio.  The teacher will also provide an example of each activity and an electronic portfolio.  The electronic will be shown at the beginning of the unit and at the end of the unit, prior to the development of their own.

Student’s Role:          The students will complete each assignment and save those particular assignments to a floppy disk.  Each student is responsible for his or her own work and are required to give two presentations on a Power Point slide show.  Students need to prepare for class with their materials present for each class.  Also, students need to participate in classroom discussions and have good attendance throughout this unit.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE :

World Book Encyclopedia

Time Magazine

20th Century: America’s Time

Newsweek

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC:

The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

Hiroshima, by Victoria Sherrow

The Holocaust, by Geoffrey Wigoder

Letters of a World War II, by Keith Winston 
 

FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT, TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES: 

Title1: Incredible Journey from Dunkirk to Nagasaki

 

URL1: http://history1900s.about.com/library/prm/blincrediblejourney1.htm

 

Description1:  An article that portrays a personal account, Aidan McCarthy, experiences during World War II as a RAF officer.

Title2: Invasion of Normandy

URL2: http://www.ibiscom.com/dday.htm

Description2:  An eyewitness account of the invasion on Normandy, D-Day. A French woman describes the first hours of D-Day. She discusses the Allied forces charging up the beaches and the reactions of the German soldiers.

 

Title3: Surviving the Atomic Attack on Hiroshima, 1945

URL3: http://www.ibiscom.com/hiroshima.htm

Description3:  A detailed description on the Atomic Bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, August 5, 1945.  Dr. Michihiko, who witnessed and lived through the devastating attack on Hiroshima, gives the personal version.

 

Title4: National Geographic: Remembering Pearl Harbor

URL4: http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/

Description4:  A site that gives a detailed overview on the events that took place on December 7, 1941.  Numerous amount of information is provided through personal accounts, maps, timeline and other topics for anyone interested in a detailed description of Pearl Harbor.
 

Title5: National WWII Memorial

URL5: http://www.wwiimemorial.com/

Description5:  This web site is dedicated to the WWII memorial, which will be ready on May 29, 2004.  This is a wonderful site which provides information on the reasons for creating this memorial and what the site has to offer people from all walks of life.  The viewer can also learn a great amount of history on WWII.
 

Title6: Anne Frank Resources

URL6: http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/hotlists/annefrank.html

Description6:  A wonderful web site that offers a variety of information on life of Anne Frank.  The site gives a detailed account of her life and information on her funding organizations. 
 

RELEVANT INFORMATION, STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES:

Title1: The History Place: World War II in Europe

URL1: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm

Purpose of Use1:        This is a general web site that can be used for a variety of activities within this unit.

Description1:              A timeline on the major events that led to World War II, specifically targets the European theatre.  Gives a general overview on WWII, which uses a chronological order format.

Title2: World War Two

URL2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/index.shtml

Purpose of Use2:        This is a general web site that can be used for a variety of activities within this unit.

Description2:              An overview of the events that occurred during World War II.  This site gives variety of information on battles, timelines, personal stories, and political events of World War II, which can be used for various activities.

Title3: The History Channel

URL3: http://www.historychannel.com

Purpose of Use3:        The site will be used to access information on an event or person during WWII.

Description3:              This site allows the user to access anyone or event in history by simply typing in the name or event.  Also, you can locate television programs that pertain to your selected topic and buy it on video.

 

Title4: World War II Magazine Web Quest

URL4: http://web.olivet.edu/gradusers/covando/group/index.htm

Purpose of Use4:        This site will be used to create a newspaper or magazine cover on WWII.

Description4:              For the students to develop a comprehensive appreciation for the events of the World War II era from global, national, and cultural perspectives. This web quest allows students to create a magazine / newspaper on various issues of WWII.

Title5: World War II Magazine Web Quest

URL5: http://web.olivet.edu/gradusers/covando/group/index.htm

Purpose of Use5:        This site will be used to develop a personal profile of a Holocaust survivor.

Description5:              This web site gives a vast amount of information of the history of the Holocaust.  Also provides personal information by the victims that allow the reader to further understand the pain and suffering the Jewish people went through during WWII.

Title6: Maps of World War II

URL6: http://www.onwar.com/maps/wwii/

Purpose of Use6:        The site will be used as a resource for geographical information on WWII and the completion of the students’ maps.

Description6:              Maps of World War II provides an overview of WWII through a collection of maps that present the battles and campaigns fought in the various theatres of war. The material is organized by theatre, in roughly chronological order.