Americas Involvement in WW II

(Unit Plan)
Unit Author

First and Last Name

Caitlin Adams, Elizabeth LeBlanc, and Sam Garcia

Authors E-mail Address

cadam73@lsu.edu elebl44@lsu.edu sgarc34@lsu.edu

Course Name

ELRC

Course Number

2507

Course Section

002

Instructor Name

Debbie Heroman

Unit Overview
Unit Plan Title

Americas Involvement in World War II

Curriculum-Framing Questions

Goals

Content Questions

What is the significance of Americas involvement in WWII?

How did America get involved?
When did America get involved?
Where did America get involved?
Which Americans got involved?
English Language Arts: Are students able to create a
cartoon based on information gathered about American
soldiers in World War II?
History: Do students understand how to organize American
war events into a timeline of chronological order?
Geography: Do students know how to plot the accurate
locations of three American battles from World War II?

Unit Summary

Students will learn how and why America became involved in WWII and what happened
throughout its involvement. Through in-class activities, students will demonstrate what they
have learned about America in WWII regarding History, Geography, and Language Arts.
Students will obtain a better understanding of the main events surrounding America in WWII
and where the events happened. TSW understand the reasoning for the war in history. TSW
understand which Americans were involved through their English Language Arts lesson, and
TSW grasp an understanding of the location of certain battles that America was a part of
through a geography lesson.
Subject Area(s)
INTEL TEACH TO THE FUTURE
with support from Microsoft 2000 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Geography, History, English Language Arts

Grade Level [Click box(es) of all grade level(s) that your Unit targets]

K-2
6-8
ESL
Gifted and Talented

3-5
9-12
Resource
Other:

Targeted State Frameworks/Content Standards/Benchmarks

5.4.2 Analyze a map using a variety of tools

5.1.1 Create a timeline of key events in early American history from pre-Columbian
civilizations to 1763
LAC.RL.5.2c Determine the theme of a story, drama, or poem including how characters in a
story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic.
Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to create a comic strip using information gathered from letters
Students will be able to comprehend and analyze letter prompts

Students will analyze an individual soldiers feelings about World War II and learn how
to use letters as a primary source for research.
Students will have a better understanding of the general history behind America in WWII
Students will be able to locate areas where important events occurred
Students will be able to organize a visual timeline of events leading up and during the war
Students will be able to complete a graphic organizer chart with information gathered from
their research about different WWII battles.
The students will be able to map out and then print out their three American battles that they
chose to locate using google maps.
Procedures

Students will start the lesson learning what was like a day in the life of a soldier by
reading letters written by Ameican soldiers. Through a Prezi presentation students will
then be taught how to make comic strip creating what they interpret a soldiers daily
life and thoughts
Students will be shown a Power point slideshow providing them the history of
Americas involvement in WWII. Once informed about America in WWII, students will
create a timeline of events they find significant on Prezi.
The students will then watch a video about certain battles from WW II. This video will
introduce the students into their webquest about Americas involvement in the war.
Students will then choose three main battles that they will locate on google maps to
grasp a further understanding of the geography of the war.

Approximate Time Needed

English Language Arts: 45 minute session

History: 30 minute session
INTEL TEACH TO THE FUTURE
with support from Microsoft 2000 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Geography: 50 minute session

Prerequisite Skills

Basic Computer Skills

Basic Knowledge of Prezi
Web Browsing
Basic reading comprehension skills
Could help to have seen google maps before
Materials and Resources

Technology Hardware (Click boxes of all equipment needed)

Camera
Laser Disk
Computer(s)
Printer
Digital Camera
Projection System
DVD Player
Scanner
Internet Connection
Television

VCR
Video Camera
Video Conferencing Equip.
Other:

Technology Software (Click boxes of all software needed.)

Database/Spreadsheet
Image Processing
Desktop Publishing
Internet Web Browser
E-mail Software
Multimedia
Encyclopedia on CD-ROM

Web Page Development

Word Processing
Other: Google Maps

Printed Materials

Handouts

Supplies

Computers with Internet

Internet Resources

Google Maps, Prezi, WebQuest, Pixton.com

Others

History Powerpoint and Webquest intro Powerpoint

Accommodations for Differentiated Instruction

Resource Student

Student will have extra time and individual assistance

Non-Native English
Speaker

Bilingual assistance will be available

Gifted Student

Children will be given extra work to enhance critical thinking

skills, and these students can plot more battles on google
maps

Student Assessments

English Language Arts: Comic strip

History: Prezi Timeline
Geography: Graphic Organizer chart, Map with plotted battle locations, and students articles

INTEL TEACH TO THE FUTURE

with support from Microsoft 2000 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved