Goals and Objectives
Students will examine the causes of World War II. Students will identify the beginning of the war in European Theater from 1939-1941.
California State Content and Common Core Standards
10.8 Students analyze the causes and consequences of World War II. 10.8.2 Understand the role of appeasement, nonintervention (isolationism), and the domestic distractions in Europe and the United States prior to the outbreak of World War II.
10.8.3 Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers on a map and discuss the major turning points of the war, the principal theaters of conflict, key strategic decisions, and the resulting war conferences and political resolutions, with emphasis on the importance of geographic factors.
CCSS.RH.9-10.3. Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.
10.8.3 Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers on a map and discuss the major turning points of the war, the principal theaters of conflict, key strategic decisions, and the resulting war conferences and political resolutions, with emphasis on the importance of geographic factors.
CCSS.RH.9-10.3. Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.
Lesson Introduction
Neville Chamberlain’s speech after the Munich Agreement will be displayed on the board and the students will be asked to read it and then be asked what they think it means. After the discussion, the teacher will tell the students that this was one year and a month that World War II started.
"We, the German Führer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for our two countries and for Europe.
We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again. We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe."
"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour.
I believe it is peace for our time...
Go home and get a nice quiet sleep."
"We, the German Führer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for our two countries and for Europe.
We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again. We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe."
"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour.
I believe it is peace for our time...
Go home and get a nice quiet sleep."
Vocabulary
Once reaching their computers, students will be told to look up each one of the terms and write down its definition. They will also draw a picture to ensure comprehension and retention.
Appeasement
Isolationism
Fascism
Propaganda
Appeasement
Isolationism
Fascism
Propaganda
Content Delivery
The teacher will divide the class into three groups with about 3-4 students in each group. Each group will be assigned a year, 1939, 1940, and 1941. There will most likely be multiple of each group. The teacher will then guide the students to the computer lab or library where they will work on an interactive map.
Student Engagement
At a computer and in their groups, students will summarize each of the events on the interactive map for their assigned year. They will then find a picture that encapsulates the events on the web. It can be of a historical figure or of one of the events.
After they have summarized the event and found the picture, they will then move conduct a peer teaching activity and each group will pair with a group from a different year and they will share what they have learned as well as the picture. All students are required to talk about their year. The students listening should take notes on what the other group is presenting to them.
Find the Interactive map here.
After they have summarized the event and found the picture, they will then move conduct a peer teaching activity and each group will pair with a group from a different year and they will share what they have learned as well as the picture. All students are required to talk about their year. The students listening should take notes on what the other group is presenting to them.
Find the Interactive map here.
Lesson Closure
For lesson closure, the teacher will show them a video of the battle lines between powers and how they change every day until Dec. 7th 1941 when the U.S. enters the war.
Assessment
For assessment, the teacher will be asking students questions about what they are summarizing to see if they are understanding the material and remaining on task. If the interactive is too difficult then the teacher may have to supplement it with a presentation to ensure comprehension of the material.
Accommodations for English Learners, Striving Readers and Students with Special Needs
Students who require accommodations will be grouped with students who have a firmer grasp of the material to ensure that they are not missing any important information. They will be encouraged to participate in the activity.