Did you know that way before Hitler became a dictator, he actually spent nine months in a German jail? Provide the background for the escalating point before the Nazi party took over in World War II through the exercises in the resource....

A New Order in Europe calls for a new lesson plan! This third plan in a series of four sequential lessons encourages high schoolers to read primary sources about the development of the New Order and follow up their knowledge with a...

High schoolers are have begun to learn  the art of diplomacy with each other, but do they understand how diplomacy works at a global level?  The second in a series of four lessons, guides scholars in evaluating primary sources. The why...

Learn more about the Grand Alliance with a scaffolded lesson plan that includes four activities. Class members use primary sources to complete a map exercise, understand the goals and objectives of each individual nation, and participate...

A close reading of an excerpt from The Book Thief provides high school readers with an opportunity to examine how Markus Zusak uses syntax, repetition, and figurative language to contribute to the power of the novel, and to help develop...

Young historians channel the very medium used to convey news during World War I. They create and present a five-minute radio broadcast on a particular topic from the war, such as the roles of African Americans and women, war bonds,...

Explore the countries involved in World War II. Pupils find information about what these countries were like before the war. Who was the leader of each country? What issues, concerns, and goals were important in 1938? They fill in their...

"I have here in my hand . . ." The war against Communism and Joseph McCarthy’s place in it are the focus of a series of lessons examining postwar America from 1945-1954. Joseph McCarthy takes center stage in this, the final lesson of the...

The war against Communism and Joseph McCarthy’s place in it are the focus of a series of three lessons examining postwar America from 1945-1950. This first lesson asks groups to read an introduction that describes the Verona Project and...

Some words are best left unspoken.  Words matter, according to Benjamin Zander, conductor, teacher, and lecturer. To illustrate his point, Zander recounts a story told to him by a survivor of Auschwitz. As a result of her experience this...

Take your history class through Schindler's List with a learning guide, which offers an introduction to the film and a variety of discussion questions and related assignments. There are several useful resources in the sidebar, such as a...

Anthony Mann's 1953 film biography, The Glenn Miller Story, is the focus of a series of activities that introduce class members to Miller's life and music. Of particular interest to music high schoolers will be the cameos by many famous...

If you're searching for a range of activities and worksheets on the subject of the onset of World War II, then this is the booklet for you. Featured topics include the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler's rise to power, the...

Roald Dahl’s classic World War II short story, “Beware of the Dog” is the focus of a close reading exercise that asks learners to respond to text-dependent questions with evidence drawn from the story. Participants record responses on...

“It was a miracle.” Basil Heatter’s “The Long Night of the Little Boats,” which details the miraculous rescue of the British army from the shores of Dunkirk in 1940, is featured in a series of exercises that ask class members to read,...

Wars have a profound effect not only on a country's soldiers, but also on the everyday lives of its citizens. Invite young historians to discover how Britain prepared for the second World War by analyzing a series of government posters...

As the culminating activity in a unit study of World War II, class members prepare for and engage in a Socratic seminar that considers whether the United States was justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki....

While the Treaty of Versailles was originally aimed at breaking the Central Powers apart, it only sparked Germany's desire for revenge. Show an informative video as your world history class begins to learn about World War II. 

It's the Royal Air Force against the Luftwaffe! While the Luftwaffe inflicts enormous damage, the RAF is able to hold them off, forcing Hitler to change his plan of attack. Discuss the advantages each group has during the air fights.

With the Japanese troops advancing ten miles a day, US troops retreat to the small peninsula of Bataan. Setting up their trenches in Bataan gives the US troops a unique advantage due to the landscape. Watch the US troops march through...

Although the United States suspected an early attack on Hawaii from the Japanese military, Franklin D. Roosevelt feared what increasing Japan's power would do. Watch the tension rise between Japan, China, and the United States.

With over 12 million people slaughtered, both military and civilian, World War II is our most destructive war to date. This shows the occupation of both the Allied and Axis troops throughout Europe and even into Northern Africa. While...

Leading the largest offensive in world history, three million German soldiers sneak into the Soviet Union, despite their peace agreement. Although they put up a valiant fight, the Soviet Union was losing its troops.

Like a shark bearing its teeth, the US fighter plane demonstrated innovative tactics against the Japanese Air Force, threatening the Axis Powers and instilling hope in the Allied Forces. Watch these daring moves and learn about the...