Curated OER
Primary History: Children of World War II - The War Effort
Learners examine the war effort during World War II by designing a poster, and writing a letter home from the perspective of a soldier arriving home. They also discuss how much British children knew about America. In addition, they do...
Curated OER
Navajo Code Talkers
An engaging lesson focuses on the contributions of the Navajo people during World War II. Learners read the book Navajo Code Talkers by Andrew Santella, answer a series of comprehension questions about the text, and write a letter as a...
Curated OER
Assignment Discovery Lesson Plan World War II
Students examine primary and secondary documents about life on the homefront during World War II. In this World War II lesson, students research the conditions of daily life in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany during...
US Holocaust Museum
Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust
Hiding in the filth of a sewer, as a child, to avoid capture by Nazi soldiers—sounds scary! Scholars investigate the youngest victims of the Holocaust, the children. They research video clips and written sources from the Holocaust...
US National Archives
The Home Front: How Did People Prepare for the War at Home?
Wars have a profound effect not only on a country's soldiers, but also on the everyday lives of its citizens. Invite young historians to discover how Britain prepared for the second World War by analyzing a series of government posters...
US Holocaust Museum
Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story
Imagine being a child forced from your home and into a concentration camp during World War II. Scholars prepare for a visit to the United States Holocaust Museum by researching the children of the horrible event. They analyze...
Curated OER
On the Home Front
Students list specific actions taken on the home front by non-combatants during World War II, discuss ways students have been and can be involved in a home front war effort, and analyze war posters.
Curated OER
Journey to Topaz, a Literature Based Approach
Students view a video clip of the experiences of Japanese-Americans during World War II. They read parts of a book in which a child tells her story about living in the internment camps. They participate in a simulation activity as well.
Curated OER
Primary History: Children of World War II
In this World War II worksheet, students discuss the war with older people, and visit local libraries and museums to learn how the war changed the place where they live. They use resources to find out which countries were occupied and...
Curated OER
Primary History: Children of World War 2 Extension Activity- Daily Life
In this World War 2 instructional activity, students choose to complete one or more of the three listed extension activities. All activities pertain to daily life of children during World War 2.
Curated OER
My Secret War: The WWII Diary of Madeline Beck: Lesson 11
Fifth graders explore world history by participating in a class game. In this propaganda lesson plan, 5th graders identify Madeline Beck and the role women played during World War II. Students create fictitious propaganda posters and...
Curated OER
World War II: Concentration Camps and Refugees
Learners explore the experiences of the people in the concentration camps at liberation during World War II. Students read an article on the Liberation of Belsen Concentration Camp and D-Day and report to the class.
Echoes & Reflections
The Children and Legacies Beyond the Holocaust
Using video testimony, primary source documents that detail international agreements, and structured discussions, learners consider the precarious position of children during the Holocaust and other international conflicts, and how to...
Curated OER
Primary History: Children of World War II - Food and Shopping
In this World War II instructional activity, students compare a current grocery shopping list with one from war times. They research wartime recipes and complete a rationing challenge based on what was available in 1942.
US Holocaust Museum
Time Capsule in a Milk Can
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
Curated OER
The Children of World War II
Students examine the lives of children during WWII. In this WWII lesson, students investigate the effects of the war on children, what life was like on and off the battlefield and how the geography influenced decisions. Students also...
Curated OER
The Political Dr. Seuss
Students discuss the role political cartoons have played in U.S. politics and public affairs since the 1700's. They analyze some of the political cartoons Dr. Seuss drew during World War II and discuss how these cartoons conveyed his...
Curated OER
World War II
Sixth graders read Under the Blood Red Sun (UBRS), V is for Victory (V), and Number the Stars(NS). They examine WWII through the eyes of Japanese, Danish, and American students and complete at least two projects: a radio broadcast and a...
Curated OER
World War II Webquest
Tenth graders work with a partner to locate and follow the directions of a webquest of their choice. Using the internet, they research their topic in depth and write a paper on their findings. They are assessed by the criteria on the...
Curated OER
"You're Probably Tired, Dear Diary" - Children's Diaries during the Holocaust
As part of the study of WWII and the Holocaust, class members read a series of diary entries written by children during the onslaught of Nazi occupation. Each entry is accompanied by biographical information and discussion questions. The...
Smithsonian Institution
Mobilizing Children
Scholars find out how the government used propaganda to mobilize children to help in the war effort. Lesson exercises include analyzing a quote from Franklin Roosevelt, viewing propaganda images and posters, and participating in a lively...
PBS
Act of Duty
PBS provides educators with this "Utilization Guide," a four segment program that covers the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. The 42-page packet includes lessons, background...
Curated OER
The People of World War Two
Students explore how those children returning felt isolated and how shocked they were by the changes in Britain. They explain the impact that World War Two had upon the generation born during the war. Students explore how people felt...
Shaker Junior High School Library Media Center
WWII Project Outline
Work together as a class and get to know the ins and outs of World War II with this engaging collaborative project. Class members are broken into groups to research particular war topics, from life on the home front to the Holocaust and...