Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Was Responsible for the Start of the Cold War?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students determine who is responsible for the start of the Cold War. In this Cold War lesson, students conduct their own research about the evolution of the war and write essays that reveal their opinion on how the war began.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Prisoner of War Camps In Germany- Crossword

For Students 6th - 7th
In this history crossword puzzle worksheet, students read and analyze 12 clues pertaining to the prisoners of war in Germany during Word War II. Students fit their answers into a crossword puzzle, which has no word bank.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Japanese Prisoner of War Camps

For Students 5th - 6th
In this World War II worksheet, students read the 10 clues about Japan's prisoners of war during the war. Students use the clues to find 10 words to complete the crossword puzzle.
Handout
Spark Notes

The Interwar Years (1919-1938): Study Questions

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about years between World Wars I and II.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners engage in a video activity to research the effects of war upon the Japanese to live in the world after World War II. They answer specific questions in order to complete the unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 4. Killing Fields

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders describe several of the WWI's bloodiest battles, track the battles' progression to determine advances made by leading nations, and write frontline journalistic accounts of one or more of the battles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wilson's 14 Points

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars analyze political cartoons representing the role of the U.S. in the Post-World War One Era. They work in groups and analyze cartoons for their stereotypes, symbols, and caricatures. After analyzing them, they complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Internment of Japanese-Americans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assess the significance of a watershed event in the political history of the United States . They identify events and issues associated with the internment of Japanese-Americans as a result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor...
Lesson Plan
Japan Society

Japan in the World Since 1945

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What have US-Japanese relations been like since the conclusion of World War II? Why do some commentators identify Japan's postwar years as a subordinate independence? Invite your young historians to research Japan's status in the world...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago Tribune vs. US (1942): When Does Freedom of the Press Go Too Far?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define freedom of the press in peace and war time. As a class, they identify the need for the public to be informed, but discuss where the line should be drawn to protect national security. They develop their arguments and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

D-Day: June 6, 1944

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine the preparations for the invasion of France on June 6, 1944. After viewing a clip from "The War", they identify the demands and concerns of all military leaders for this invasion. They use maps to examine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Civil About War?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study about the Civil War through primary sources used in the PBS production of "Freedom: A History of US" based on Joy Hakim's books, "A History of US", and the companion PBS Web site.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War: Solving the Mystery of History with Voices on Vinyl

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the Cold War Era. In this world history activity, 8th graders discover the positions taken by countries during the Cold War as they listen to lectures regarding the major events and turning points in the Cold War....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Non-Violence Means "Doing Nothing"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars reflect on violence and non-violence.  In this World History lesson, students read an article by Gandhi then write an essay as to whether they agree or disagree with his thoughts.  Young scholars then share all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1948 - Berlin Airlift

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine a document from the Berlin Airlift in order to research his important event in World History.
Lesson Plan
Rutgers University

How the Allies Won World War II: Island-hopping in the Central Pacific

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Using primary source documents, young historians explore the strategies the US used to defeat Japan during WWII. They also learn about the American military experience, and innovations that changed the style of warfare. Students benefit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nos Creemos Americanos: Braceros in History and Song

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Mexican folk songs offer an authentic look at WWII immigrant workers. This study of the U.S. Bracero Program sets historians up with context information so they can write their own corrido. The class reviews themes and formulas of...
Lesson Plan
National WWII Museum

“My Dear Little Boys…” Interpreting a letter home from the war

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Letters have long been prized by historians as primary sources for what they reveal not only about events but also about the emotional responses of the writers to these events. "My Dear Little Boys," a letter written by Leonard Isacks on...
Lesson Plan
Facing History and Ourselves

The Holocaust: Bystanders and Upstanders

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Scholars analyze the role of bystanders during the Holocaust. The investigation explores the roles of the bystanders, upstanders, and rescuers with primary and secondary resources to determine actions taken—or not—and their implications...
Activity
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Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Pearl Harbor Activity #1: Newspaper or Radio Account

For Teachers 6th - 12th
After listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" speech, young historians research information about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, possible motives for the attack, and the consequences of the attack. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black Alabamians in World War I

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders describe the racial climate of Alabama, then discuss some of the war-related concerns of black and white Alabamians.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Historical Perspectives: Coming Home from War

For Teachers 7th - 12th
What do the homecoming experiences of soldiers who fought in WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan reveal about the politics and culture of the US during the time period of each war? Young historians view The Way We Get By, which tells...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facing the Ghosts of Our Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A reading of a New York Times review of the movie Beloved launches research into how the Civil War affected the lives of people living during this period. Creative thinkers select a person from an included list of historical figures and...
Unit Plan
Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Anne Frank: Facing Hatred, Daring to Dream

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
The stories of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White illustrate the power of children to make a difference. The three lesson in this must-have resource are designed to inspire young people to make a difference in their world....