| Lesson Plans:
Drums of War: Exploring How Politics Shapes American War Policy
In this New York Times lesson, students will research the political
climate prior to major American wars of the past, then reflect on the
current call for power to confront Iraq.
The Legacy of Pearl Harbor
This lesson introduces students to the
Japanese attack on Pearl harbor and asks them to consider the reasons
why Japan might have wanted to expand its territory in the early
1940s. They will also consider the reasons why the United States would
have kept warships in Pearl Harbor.
The four (4) lesson plans below are
part of the unit entitled,
The Date That Lives in Infamy: Pearl Harbor Lesson Plans:
Beginning with the first American treaty with Japan in 1854 though the
attacks in 1941, students will use primary sources to synthesize
information and draw conclusions about the role of the U.S. Navy in
foreign policy and to understand how people in 1941 reacted to the
tragic bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Lesson 1: Permanent Friends: The Treaty of Kanagawa
Students learn
about foreign relations between Japan and the United States in the 19th
century, discuss the impact of the
"Treaty of Kanagawa",
and begin to understand events leading up to the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor.
Lesson 2: This is Not a Drill
In this lesson, students Reconstruct
the events of Pearl Harbor using primary documents such as
photographs, timelines, oral histories and survivor accounts. In
addition, they understand that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was
a surprise and not anticipated by the United States.
Lesson 3: The Aftermath
In this portion of the unit, students use
photographs and action reports as primary sources, assess the
damage at Pearl Harbor by examining a set of photographs, and discuss
and debate whether or not the Japanese attack was a success using
primary sources.
Lesson 4: A Date Which Will Live In Infamy
In this lesson, students
use President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s radio address following the
attack on Pearl Harbor as a primary source to understand American
reaction following the attacks and synthesize knowledge from all
lesson plans to understand how different Americans reacted to FDR's
call for war.
Getting Involved in War
This lesson introduces students to the
reasons why the United States became involved in World War II and asks
them to consider the reasons Japan decided to attack Pearl Harbor.
Students will also view a detailed interactive map showing the events
at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Attack
on Pearl Harbor: Opening Rounds
The attack on Pearl Harbor is the
first event many students associate with World War II. Students also
need to be aware of the events taking place in Europe before Pearl
Harbor and how the United States became involved in the war on the
European front.
Using Their Own Words: Commemorating the Events of World War II
through First-Hand Accounts and Oral Histories
In this lesson,
students learn about the World War II Memorial on the National Mall
in Washington D.C. They then research oral histories and first-hand
accounts of World War II events in which Americans were involved to
create a commemorative visual presentation.
Remembering Pearl Harbor: The USS
Arizona
In this lesson, students
1) describe the destruction at Pearl Harbor; 2) explain the important
role of the USS Arizona as part of the Pacific Fleet; 3) explain the
significance of the USS Arizona Memorial and other war memorials; and,
4) determine the impact of World War II on their own community.
Was the United States Ready for Pearl
Harbor?
The United States military
was largely taken by surprise at Pearl Harbor in 1941, although there
had been some indication that the Japanese might be planning an
attack. This lesson asks students to consider the United States' level
of preparedness for the attack and to think about what the U.S. could
have done to be better prepared.
The Rise of Hitler: There are five
sections to this lesson
Once students have accessed this site, they
can work through each mini-lesson by following the links within.
Message Drafted by General Eisenhower in Case the D-day Invasion
Failed
Students explore Eisenhower's message and photographs to understand
the significance of the D-day invasion.
Franklin
Delano Roosevelt's Deception: Was It Successful? You Decide!
In this
lesson, Students will 1) understand the extent of FDR's physical
disability; 2) determine whether he was successful in deceiving
the public about his disability; and 3) examine some of the reasons
for this deception.
The Foreign Policy of Franklin D.
Roosevelt To The Entry Into World War II
This unit is broken into three (3) mini-lessons: Lesson One: Learning
Concepts, Lesson Two: The Good Neighbor Policy, and Lesson Three: U.S.
Neutrality.
George C. Marshall: Soldier of Peace
Teacher resources including
readings and discussion questions for learning about the Chief of
Staff of the United States Army during World War II.
Using Their Own Words: Commemorating the Events of World War II
through First-Hand Accounts and Oral Histories
In this lesson,
students learn about the World War II Memorial on the National Mall
in Washington D.C. They then research oral histories and first-hand
accounts of World War II events in which Americans were involved to
create a commemorative visual presentation.
Getting Involved in War
This lesson introduces students to the
reasons why the United States became involved in World War II and asks
them to consider the reasons Japan decided to attack Pearl Harbor.
Students will also view a detailed interactive map showing the events
at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The Battle of Midway
Turning the Tide in the Pacific: In this lesson, students
determine why Midway became strategically
important during World War II and describe the course of the Battle of
Midway.
The Normandy Invasion
In this lesson
from Discovery, students learn that the Normandy invasion was a
combined effort by several nations. In addition, students will
understand that documentation of an event as it occurs helps later
generations understand the event. Although created for grades 9-12,
this lesson can be modified to fit the middle school curriculum.
The Legacy of Pearl Harbor
This lesson introduces students to
the Japanese attack on Pearl harbor and asks them to consider the
reasons why Japan might have wanted to expand its territory in the
early 1940s. They will also consider the reasons why the United States
would have kept warships in Pearl Harbor.
Attack
on Pearl Harbor: Opening Rounds
The attack on Pearl Harbor is the first event many students associate
with World War II. Students also need to be aware of the events
taking place in Europe before Pearl Harbor and how the United States
became involved in the war on the European front.
North American Battleground of World War II
In
this lesson, students 1)
explain how the Japanese occupation and
American recapture of Attu (Aleutian Islands, Alaska) were significant
in the history of World War II; 2) describe the complexity of even a
relatively small-scale military campaign; and 3) discuss both the
valor of the American soldiers, who fought under weather conditions
considered among the worst in the world, and the loyalty of the
Japanese troops to their emperor and their cause.
Using Their Own Words
Commemorating the Events of World War II
through First-Hand Accounts and Oral Histories: In this lesson,
students learn about the World War II Memorial on the National Mall
in Washington D.C. They then research oral histories and first-hand
accounts of World War II events in which Americans were involved to
create a commemorative visual presentation.
Children living
during WWII
This perspective is from children living in Great Britain
and ask students, "What would life be like without pizza and chips?"!
Let our guide, Vera, take your students through the challenges of
living in Wartime Britain.
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Language Arts