World War II Web-Based Discovery Activity
Purpose of the Activity:
The purpose of this activity is simple: I want you to become more familiar with the content of this unit, and to do so by going beyond what is provided to you in your textbook. My hope is that you will not only learn some new things that will help you to solidify your comprehension of the concepts but will, as well, learn how to use the Internet on your own in the future to “dig deeper” into topics about which we will be learning. There is so much more to what we learn in class than what is provided to you in our books and my lectures. It is now time to go and experience it!
The Task:
Access as many of the following websites as you can and in any order that you would like. In some cases you will need to record information, while, for others, all you need to do is search through and enjoy the material. Be ready to discuss at a later time what you experience during today’s activity.
Accessing the Sites:
- Go to my SharePoint Page.
- Go to “Student Documents” and find the “WWII Materials” folder.
- Click “WWII Web-Based Activity (revised 14-15)”.
- Move the cursor over the following links and right-click the mouse. Select “open hyperlink” to access
the site.
The Sites
Site #1:
A. This is the History Channel’s website about WWII. The whole site is excellent, but the following
links provide access to high definition videos from WWII, as well as an interactive
presentation about WWII decision-making.
WWII Interactive (REALLY GOOD!)
Rosie the Riveter
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Winston Churchill
Joseph Stalin
Franklin D. Roosevelt: The WWII Years
Adolf Hitler
Deconstructing History: U-boats
Did WWI Lead to WWII?
Deconstructing History: the Sherman Tank
Deconstructing History: the B-17 Flying Fortress
America Enters WWII
Combat Rations in WWII
Germans Test V-2 Rockets
USS Arizona Under Attack at Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
D-Day
D-Day: The Allied Invasion of Normandy
Concentration Camp Liberation
Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of the Bulge
North Africa Campaign
Japanese Internment in America
Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Iwo Jima
Radar: Invention of War
Atomic Bombs End WWII
Hitler’s Military Blunders
Site #2:
A. This is an excellent, very well organized website that provides you with plenty of readings, some
movies, some animations, maps, etc. It is definitely worth a look.
1. Click beneath the blue box in the center of the page where it says “expand all”. This will
make all of topics appear.
2. These items are definitely worth looking at:
a. This is about the evacuation at Dunkirk, France (British and French troops rush to
evacuate to Great Britain) as France falls to the Nazis.
b. Animated Map: The Fall of France
c. Short Speeches by Winston Churchill
d. Animation: The Bombers and the Bombed (about aircraft bombing raids)
e. Battle of the Atlantic (a game!)
- Pretend you are a navy captain going after German u-boats!
f. Animated Map: The Battle of El Alamein
g. Animated Map: The North African Campaign
h. Animated Map: The Italian Campaign
i. Animated Map: D-Day Landings (Invasion)
j. D-Day Movies
k. Animated Map: Operation Overlord (D-Day)
l. Animated Map: Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market Garden)
m. Animated Timeline: Genocide Under the Nazis
Site #3:
- A very nice site from the National WW2 Museum.
- Scroll down to find the topics.
Site #4:
A. This is an interactive timeline/game regarding the United States and its involvement (or non-
involvement) in world affairs leading up to the attack at Pearl Harbor. Looks pretty interesting.
Site #5:
This is an interactive site from Ohio State University. It appears to be worth a look.
Site #6:
A. This is another excellent, very well organized website that provides you with both an excellent
overview of WWII, as well as very specific information about a variety of WWII-related topics.
Again, this site is definitely worth a look.
Site #7:
A. This website focuses, in particular, on what was happening at the home front (in the U.S.) during
the war.
Site #8:
This site offers some statistics about WWII. It is not very “flashy” but you might still find it to be interesting.
Site #9:
A. This link will take you to a website that has search results for WWII-related materials.
B. There are several “pages” worth of search results.
C. Definitely worth a look.
WWII Web-Based Activity Assignment
You will be scored for this assignment using the following rubric. Each category is worth 4 points for a total of 8 points. This score will then be multiplied by 2 for a grand total of 16 possible points. This will count as a 16 point quiz grade.
Assignment Rubric
4 / 3 / 2 / 1Interpretation / Answers are mostly correct and demonstrate excellent comprehension. / Answers are often correct and demonstrate good comprehension. / Answers are occasionally correct and demonstrate an incomplete comprehension of the topic. / Answers do not reflect accurate comprehension of the topic(s).
Detail / Answers are mostly complete, extensive, and include man.0y details. / Answers are usually complete and include several details. / Answers contain some details. / Answers lack the required detail or are incomplete.
Total Score = ______/16 points
Please complete the following assignment while you visit the WWII-related websites during our web-based activity.
1. Complete the following flow-chart to describe how the United States was originally neutral but moved
away from that policy over time.
2. Complete the following graphic organizer for the concept of “Pearl Harbor” (make that the “Title of Event”).
3. Complete the following graphic organizer for the concept of “D-Day” (make that the “Title of Event”). D-Day is also
known as “Operation Overlord”.
4. Complete the following graphic organizer. Focus on the question:
“What were the pros and cons of developing the atomic bomb and dropping it on Japan?”
Pros (For): Cons (against):
1.1.
2.2.
5. Complete the following graphic organizer. Focus on the question:
“What were the arguments for and against Executive Order 9066 – the order to place Japanese-
Americans in internment camps?”
Arguments for: Arguments Against
1.1.
2.2.
6. Identify and describe how the events and people that you learned about during this lesson have had an impact on YOU today.
“One SPECIFIC way the people or events learned about in today’s lesson have impacted MEtoday...
______
______
______
______
______.
.
7. Compare the differences between life in America before and during WWII. Focus on the aspects of
life/society that I have identified. (Hint: This section is all about you discovering how everyday life
changed because of the war.)
Before WWII During WWII
1. WOMEN1.WOMEN
2. AFRICAN AMERICANS2. AFRICAN AMERICANS
3. AVAILABILITY OF GOODS/PRODUCTS3.AVAILABILITY OF GOODS/PRODUCTS
4. CIVIL RIGHTS/LIBERTIES4.CIVIL RIGHTS/LIBERTIES
8. Identify …
- Interesting/shocking fact:
- Interesting/shocking statistic:
- Favorite topic/subtopic:
9. Place the following events in the correct spot on the timeline by writing their letter on the timeline.
a) U.S. drops atomic bombsf) Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
b) Spanish Civil War beginsg) Lend-Lease Act passed by Congress
c) Germany annexes Austriah) Japan invades Manchuria
d) U.S. embargoes Japani) Germany and U.S.S.R. sign “Non-Aggression Pact”
e) FDR’s “Infamy” speech j) first Neutrality Act passed by Congress
f) Germany invades Polandk) Soviets defeat Germany at Stalingrad
l) D-Day invasion
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
10.Go to this website and read about the topic of strategic bombing. Look especially at the “Prelude” section and skim
the rest.
Complete the following graphic organizer by describing how and whythe policies of the U.S. and Great Britain (the
“Allies”) regarding the use of strategic bombingchanged over time. Use the same instructions from earlier in the
assignment. Make the topic “The Allies’ Change in Policy Regarding the Use of Strategic Bombing”.
11. Complete the following graphic organizer for the concept of “WWII” (make that the “Title of Event”).