The Bay Area Home Front in World War II

Landmarks Summer Institute

The Bay Area Home Front in World War II

Lucy Conroy

August 11, 2014

Current Curriculum Unit: Medieval Europe

8th grade World History

Learning Goal: Better connect study of medieval defensive structures (castle) to defensive structures in our own environment today. We will be using Fort Warren in the Boston Harbor Islands.

Background: Currently, as part of an extensive unit on Medieval Europe, 8th grade students research and create a model of a medieval building (most chose castles, but they could choose manors or cathedrals). Students display these buildings in a “Medieval Buildings Project” Fair where the whole school, families, and community members are invited to view their work. Through this project, students get immersed in medieval culture and learn the natural and man-made parts of a castle in a hands-on way.

The challenge for this landmarks unit is: How can we connect our study of a medieval castle to a fort in the environment we live in? Can we see features of a medieval castle in Fort Warren? What broader lessons can we learn about defense by looking at these structures together?

Guiding Questions:

What does the landmark tells us about the priorities of people at a time and place? What were the functions/purposes of these landmarks?

Medieval European CastleFort Warren/Boston 1860

What does this building tell us about defensive military technology at this time and place? Is there evidence of changing technology? In what ways do you see changes in the purposes of this landmark?

How are these landmarks SIMILAR? How are they DIFFERENT?

Investigate ways the Unites States “defends” itself today. Are there landmarks of these defenses? How might we compare current defense with medieval castles? Local forts such as Fort Warren?

Preview Activity

Brainstorm discussion:

What is a landmark?

What makes a place a “landmark”? Natural? Human-made?

Who decides it is a landmark?

Lesson Intro:

Power Point: Fort Warren and other are forts students may have visited in past years. Medieval castles over time (transition from wood to stone).

Field Experience

Field Trip to Fort Warren

Reflection:

Written reflection.

What are ways the Unites States “defends” itself today. Are there landmarks of these defenses? How might we compare current defense with medieval castles? Local forts such as Fort Warren?

Name:______Date:______Class:______

Landmarks Notes 1

Questions:

(Questions informed by UC Berkeley History Social Science Project, “In Search of the Past in the Present: World War II on the Home Front: Landmark Analysis Questions”)

Describe the landmark.

What are the natural characteristics of this landmark? What is its location? Its surroundings?

Why was this landmark created?

Who created it? When?

What was the significance of this historical issue at the time?

Name:______Class:______Date:______

Landmark Notes 2

Reflection:

What similarities do you see in these two structures?

What differences?