Unit 2 World War II lesson 7 the war
Lesson 7: The War
Objective: To understand the major events and turning points of World War II
Key Topics:
1. Major Battles: The Battle of Stalingrad, The Battle of Midway, and The D-Day Invasion.
2. The Holocaust: Persecution and extermination of Jews and other minority groups.
3. Allied Strategies: The bombing campaign, island-hopping strategy, and the use of spies and code-breakers.
4. The Atomic Bomb: The development and usage of atomic bombs by the United States.
Instructional Activities:
1. Introduction:
- Begin the lesson by discussing the overall progression of World War II and the major events that have been covered so far.
- Provide a brief overview of the key topics that will be discussed in this lesson.
2. Major Battles:
- Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the following battles: Stalingrad, Midway, or D-Day Invasion.
- In their groups, students should research and create a presentation summarizing the significance of the battle, key figures involved, and the outcome.
- Each group should present their findings to the class, and facilitate a discussion on the impact of these battles on the outcome of the war.
3. The Holocaust:
- Explain the concept of the Holocaust, emphasizing the persecution and extermination of Jews and other minority groups by the Nazis.
- Show a short documentary or share survivor testimonies to provide a personal and emotional perspective.
- Facilitate a class discussion on the causes and consequences of the Holocaust, as well as the moral and ethical implications.
4. Allied Strategies:
- Discuss the different strategies employed by the Allies to defeat the Axis powers.
- Provide information on the bombing campaign, island-hopping strategy, and the use of spies and code-breakers.
- Divide students into pairs or small groups and assign each group one of the strategies to research further.
- Have students create a presentation or poster summarizing their strategy and its effectiveness in achieving the Allied objectives.
5. The Atomic Bomb:
- Explain the Manhattan Project and the development of atomic bombs by the United States.
- Discuss the decision to use the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the consequences of these bombings.
- Facilitate a class debate on whether or not the use of atomic bombs was justified.
6. Conclusion:
- Summarize the major events and turning points discussed in the lesson.
- Have a class discussion on the overall impact of these events in bringing about the end of World War II.
Assessment:
- Have students write a short essay discussing the most significant event or turning point of World War II and its impact on the outcome of the war.
- Assess students' presentations and participation during the class discussions.