Although the United States suspected an early attack on Hawaii from the Japanese military, Franklin D. Roosevelt feared what increasing Japan's power would do. Watch the tension rise between Japan, China, and the United States.

"...December 7, 1941-a day that will live in infamy." After Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States jumped full force into World War II, declaring war on Japan.

After 43 seconds of falling, a chemical reaction began in the bomb falling over Hiroshima. Within another few seconds, tens of thousands of Japanese civilians were incinerated, ripped apart, and left to die in their decimated city....

Discover the kabuki form of Japanese classical theater performance and its reflection of the historical evolution of Japanese government and culture. As the first dramatic performance form catering to the common people, kabuki is shaped...

The Eleven-Headed Bodhisattva is a piece that represents characteristics, meanings, and ideals common to those who practice Buddhism in Japan. Learners fully analyze this piece, then take a virtual trip to examine the Buddhist temples...

Upper graders use the potter's wheel to make Japanese style tea cups, which they will use in a Japanese style tea ceremony. They hone their sculpting techniques while exploring Japanese cultural and the history of tea. There are two...

Search a variety of sources to create a multimedia or book project about Japan. Learners use the independent investigation method to plan and conduct research about Japan. They use the information they discover to create a computer book...

What a wonderful way to meld art and culture! Learners create art work in the Suminagashi style using this detailed lesson plan. This art form, which is Japanese in origin, employs ink to create beautiful results. This will be a hit with...

World War II turned nations against each other and neighbors into enemies. An eye-opening lesson plan explores the dark past of Japanese-American internment camps during WWII. Scholars learn of the fear and distrust toward Asian...

When Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan and demonstrated American naval strength, he forced the empire to engage in trade with the United States. How did this new, strong-armed relationship influence both parties? Pupils consider...

It was only eight square miles, but the island of Iwo Jima was soaked with the blood of 26,000 American and 19,900 Japanese soldiers who died fighting over it during World War II. Viewers consider the battle and its strategic importance...

Why did World War II start, and what events occurred between both of the great wars? An interesting video uses news headlines and newsreels. The video shows young academics what was happening in Germany and Asia after World War I that...

Individuals decide what they would do when faced with a difficult military decision that puts others' safety in jeopardy. The lesson also gives the real-life outcomes of the scenarios that occurred during World War II to give them a...

Young historians have the opportunity to see photos from the war in the Pacific and learn more about what each photo represents. Scholars use their knowledge of WWII to match dates and descriptions to real-life photos from the war. The...

Pupils get an overview of the Battle of the Philippine Sea during World War II, including why the navy ignored protocol to try to save their pilots. The images and audio give scholars an opportunity to understand how military leaders...

Why was the war in the Pacific theater so difficult? Show pupils how the US laid out its military strategy in the Pacific, such as island hopping, and avoiding Japanese military strongholds. With an informative video, viewers understand...

How should enemy forces treat civilians during times of war? The video examines the Japanese military's treatment of Chinese civilians during Word War II. Learners gain a better understanding of lengths the Japanese military went to...

What would you do when faced with an impossible choice? A video gives background knowledge for the battle of Okinawa when the Japanese military used civilians a shields to slow the Americans advance. It gives pupils an opportunity to...

Curious historians relive the "day which will live in infamy" using video clips from C-SPAN on the Pearl Harbor attack. The curated collection includes veteran testimonies and vintage newsreels. Additional footage includes scholars'...

The spectacular explosion of the first atomic weapon is documented with dramatic video footage in a short film. Using pictures and videos of the bomb's preparation, as well as its aftermath, scholars consider the ramifications of this...

Though the scientists who developed the atom bomb did not believe it should be used to end World War II, American President Harry S. Truman and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were of like mind in their decision to drop the bomb...

Of the images that have permeated history to define American courage, perseverance, and patriotism, the 1945 photograph of United States Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima is one of the most well known. After researching the pivotal...

Though December 7th, 1941 was a day "which would live in infamy," World War II had provided many infamous days, events, battles, and atrocities in the years before. So why were American forces so surprised when Japan attacked Pearl...