History: Intro to world war II

Tommy Brown
High School Intervention Specialist
Grade 11

Common Core Standards:

AH.IW.21. Duringthe1930s,theU.S.governmentattemptedtodistancethecountryfromearlierinterventionistpoliciesinthe
WesternHemisphereaswellasretainanisolationistapproachtoeventsinEuropeandAsiauntilthebeginningof
WWII.
AH.IW.22. TheUnitedStatesmobilizationofitseconomicandmilitaryresourcesduringWorldWarIIbroughtsignificantchanges
toAmericansociety.
AH.IW.23. Useofatomicweaponschangedthenatureofwar,alteredthebalanceofpowerandbeganthenuclearage.

Lesson Summary:
This lesson is designed to teach kids the basics and the entrance occurrences of world war II. By the end of this
unit students should be able to name at least three things that took place leading up to the start of world war II
as well as the main players in the war and what ended it.
Estimated Duration:
(Day 1) Tuesday - 30 minutes (movie)
(Day 2) Wednesday 48 minutes (group research)
(Day 3) Thursday first 30 minutes (put together group visuals) last 15-18 minutes (group presentations, 5
min each)
(day 4) Friday - technology based school scavenger hunt (48 min class period)

Commentary: I will need to make sure that all the kids are buying into the main purpose of this lesson, which
is to have a fun, interactive way to learn the material without just having them sit in front of a book and read it.
I will explain to them that how well they handle this activity will depend on if we can do other fun activities
like this throughout the remainder of the school year.
Instructional Procedures:
I would like to be done with this part of the overall section of this class by Friday and I plan to start it on
Tuesday. On Tuesday we will watch clips from pearl harbor to really help the kids grasp an idea of what I

mean when I say things leading up to the start. So for day one after we go over this lesson overview we will
watch about 30 minutes of the movie. Then on Wednesday we will break up into groups and do background
research on each of the different sections. One group will take the lead up, the second group will take during
the war, and the third group will take after the war ended. This day will take up the full 48-minute class period.
Then on Thursday I will provide poster board and markers and the kids the first 30 minutes of class will make
a quick visual of their topic to present to the class. Then the final 15-18 minutes the groups will each get about
5 minutes to present. Then on the final day for the class period we will spend about 40 or so minutes doing a
fun technology based activity around the school in smaller group parings of their choice. Students can all work
together, even with students not in their own group allowing them to use cross over info or data to possibly
help them with their own assignment. The students can use whatever research or source of info that they
desire. It can be book, posters, internet, or each other. They will take notes or record their info however they
find useful. Each kid will be aloud to have a small note card with them while they are presenting their visuals
on the third day.
Day 1: 30 minutes
After we go over the lesson plan as far as what all we will be doing and what all I expect of them then we will
watch about 30 minutes of the movie pearl harbor.

Day 2: 48 minutes
Students will begin working in their groups researching each of their topics. (Intro, during war, and post war)
Day 3: two periods (30 minute period and a 15 minute period)
During the 30 minutes students will work on their visuals in their groups
The next 15 min students will present their visuals
Day 4: full class period (48 min)
We will go all over the school in small groups and do a technology activity dealing with a scavenger hunt.

Pre-Assessment:
When they come into class on Tuesday the first 10 minutes will be spent doing a 15-20 question
multiple choice quiz that will not be for points. Each of the 3 areas theyll be researching will be on this
quiz.
Scoring Guidelines:
The quiz will be graded but will not be for points. It will simply be just to see where we are. I will then
take these quizzes and the area that each student scored their worst in will be the group they get placed
into. This way they can study and learn the info about one of the three subject areas they know the least

info about.
Post-Assessment:
The main post assessment that will be taken for points will be their visuals and presentations. As well as
participation points during the week while theyre working on them. Also on that Monday following this week
as a class warm-up I will then give them the same quiz that will be 15-20 questions again, but this time it will
also count for points.
Scoring Guidelines: 120 points
Day 1: movie (5 points possible for paying attention)
Day 2: group research (25 points possible for working and contributing to the group)
Day 3: presentation (20 points for helping put together presentation, 30 points for actually presenting)
Day 4: school wide activity (20 points for actively participating)
Following Monday quiz will be worth 20 points.

Differentiated Instructional Support

Describe how instruction can be differentiated (changed or altered) to meet the needs of gifted or
accelerated students:
Working as an intervention specialist all my assignments will be catered to students who may have a learning
disability or trouble focusing. This is why I try to switch it up between a movie, working in groups, drawing
and making visuals, to talking to the class, and then a fun technology based activity that gets them out of the
classroom and around the school.
Discuss additional activities you could do to meet the needs of students who might be struggling with the
material:
I will have hand outs or power point slides printed out with some main points or big topics that they can
research within their assigned topic if they are having trouble deciding which facts are important and which
ones are side or filler that they are finding.

Extension
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/
This is a great website, one that even I used in high school in my world war II class.

Homework Options and Home Connections

For this lesson the only homework that will be assigned will be to continue to research your personal topics so
that way you can show a full understanding when working on the visual and presentation.

Interdisciplinary Connections
Having a good understanding of world war II could help students when they are in a geography course. This is
due to the fact that they will then have a better understanding of why the economy and surrounding area of that
location is the way it is. This will also help with any other history or social studies course. Any background
info on major ground breaking/shaping events will help.

Materials and Resources:

For teachers

Pearl harbor movie

Poster board
Laptops (cart)
Markers

For students

Books
Paper
Pens

Key Vocabulary
Know any of the key contributing people to world war II
The leaders of each of the countries that participated
Also know the nicknames for each countries military

Additional Notes
Make sure the kids are having FUN while learning. Help them understand the purpose for this and how it will
help in future and outside the classroom.