Core Knowledge Foundation
Genetics and the Master Race
How did the beginnings of genetic research influence the Nazi party? A thorough, engaging unit incorporates the work of Gregor Mendel, the study of inherited traits, and the use of racism and discrimination during the Holocaust.
National Woman's History Museum
Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin
Political activist, suffragette, pacifist, and the first woman elected to Congress, Jeannette Rankin has been largely ignored in history and history textbooks. Young historians set out to rectify that situation by examining primary...
Penguin Books
Teacher's Guide: When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Julie Otsuka's haunting novel, When the Emperor Was Devine, is the subject of a 14-page teacher's guide. The guide includes the text of an interview with Otsuka, background information about Japanese immigration to the United States, and...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Unit 7: Anne Frank’s Tales from the Secret Annex Teacher Guide
Frequently banned, often challenged, a mainstay of middle school curriculum, Tales from the Secret Annex, is the featured text in the seventh unit in the Teacher Guide Core Knowledge Program. The 134-page guide includes an introduction,...
Curated OER
Defining moments: Framing the Problem
Students create a problem framing chart to examine the issues surrounding the decision to inter Japanese Americans during World War II. They respond to a set of questions using perspectives from different parties involved in the decision...
Curated OER
Studying Japanese Internment with Primary Documents
Eleventh graders view photographs of the Japanese society being interned in camps during World War II in the United States. In groups, they read and discuss Executive Order 9066 and try to determine what group they are trying to focus...
Curated OER
World War II Alien Enemy Control Program
Students review the history and language of the Alien Enemies Act and related laws as well as the Constitutional challenges it presents. They also review the World War II Alien Enemy Control Program and the Alien Enemy Hearing Board...
Curated OER
How to Send a Secret Message
In this social studies worksheet, students learn how sending secret messages was very important during World War II. Students are given a list of material needed and instructions to create their own secret message.
Curated OER
The Japanese Empire: The Beginning
Ninth graders explore empires by researching Japan's history. For this Japanese research lesson, 9th graders discuss the history of Japan and the elements of World War II that caused Japan to become an enemy of the United States....
Reed Novel Studies
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Film Study
According to John Betjeman, "Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows." With The Boy in the Striped Pajamas film study, scholars work in small groups to discuss the quote and other...
EngageNY
Gathering Textual Evidence: “Invisibility” of Those Interned
Add another layer to the class's understanding. Scholars deepen their knowledge of the primary sources in their Japanese-American Internment during World War II packet and determine how the sources relate to the theme of invisibility....
EngageNY
Building Background Knowledge: The Internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, Part 4
Learners use a Analyzing Mediums handout to detail the advantages and disadvantages of communicating with mediums such as artwork, photographs, and political cartoons in the Japanese-American Internment during World War II primary...
While They Watched
Teaching the Holocaust
What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination? Between collaborators and bystanders? Guilt and responsibility? Prompt learners to think critically about a very complex and textured topic with an innovative packet of materials.
Curated OER
Documenting History: Photographs as Social Commentaries
Learners examine photographs that make social statements. They examine content, symbolism, and their personal reactions to works of art that make expressive statements about social issues.
Curated OER
All Quiet on the Western Front
Students use unitedstreaming and Google Earth to investigate World War II and All Quiet on the Western Front. In this novel and technology instructional activity, students view a video about the novel using unitedstreaming video, visit...
Curated OER
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel
Jamie Ford’s historical novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, explores the relationship between a young Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl set against the backdrop of Seattle during World War II. The teaching...
Lesson Snips
Lessons from the Holocaust
Connect global examples of attempted genocide with a well-designed social studies instructional activity. It includes an excellent informational text with background information on the Holocaust, as well as worksheets, book report...
US Institute of Peace
Perspectives on Peace
Is peace simply the absence of war, or is there more to the story? Young social scientists define peace in the second installment of a 15-part series. Groups work together to explore cultural concepts of peace and the peacemaking process...
Curated OER
Yellow Journalism
Seventh graders investigate yellow journalism and how it affected public opinion and the government during the Spanish American War. They define key vocabulary words, and take notes during a teacher-led lecture. In pairs they read...
Curated OER
What is Communism?
Eleventh graders explore Communism. They explore Communism's roots in economics and discuss the spread of Communism in the Eastern Hemisphere. They evaluate a Communistic and a Capitalistic society. Students reflect upon the positives...
Curated OER
History Repeats Itself
Twelfth graders research historical turning points, gather-data, and extrapolate possible alternate outcomes. They work individually to choose one historical event from Attachment D, Historical Turning Points. Students complete either...
Curated OER
Bringing the Holocaust Unit to Closure: Implications For the Future
Students examine the relevance of the Holocaust to the present and future. They watch an excerpt from the movie, 'Schindler's List,' participate in a discussion of the movie excerpt, view and discuss a speech by Elie Wiesel, and write a...
Curated OER
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program
Here’s the overview for a series of lessons about the Japanese American internment introduced by the resource entitled “A Fence Away From Freedom.” Included are the link to the Smithsonian website on which the lessons are based, a list...
Curated OER
DINNER ON THE HOMEFRONT
Students, after analyzing how World War II affected life at home, plan a balanced meal on rationed food. They assess the experiences of Mainers on the home front during the war and how rationing food helped the war effort. In addition,...