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...

“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,...

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.

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.

In six months, 600,000 Soviet prisoners of war died. As this number grew, the United States struggled to stay out of Europe's war. On December 7, 1941, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States joined forces with the Allied...

Observe Hitler's tactics for taking over Austria and eliminating those people deemed undesirable. After occupying Austria, Hitler works to gain Czechoslovakia. In 1938, Arthur Neville Chamberlain signs the Munich Agreement, conceding...

A "sleeping giant" through the many German invasions in Europe, America slowly starts participating in the war. First, America sells aircraft to Britain, makes its naval presence known in the Caribbean, and builds its artillery. This...

How did Hitler rise to power? Take a look at how Adolf Hitler manipulated the government, the German masses, and his own Nazi leaders to take power of Germany post WWI. An interesting video to introduce your class to Adolf Hitler and his...

Hail the F�hrer! Learn about German support for Adolf Hitler before and during World War II. Actual letters expressing the viewpoints of the time are read. This is part two of a five part series.

Why did Germany invade Poland, initiating WWII? German troops crossed the Polish border in response to a raid Polish troops had supposedly made into Germany. Find out what really happened and Britain's response to Germany's attack.

What were the Allied and Axis countries doing just before the start of World War II? Take a peek into American, British, Spanish and German life (among others) on the eve of the most destructive war in world history. This is part one in...

Learners transport themselves to 1945 and assume the role of the president. How would you end the war with Japan? Would you choose to use the atomic bomb? First, each individual writes a speech they would give to garner the support of...

Supplement a discussion of World War II and Pearl Harbor. This lesson focuses on a book called Pearl Harbor is Burning by Kathleen V. Kudlinski. Learners fill in graphic organizers, answer questions, and conduct writing activities as...

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...

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,...

"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 instructional activity asks groups to read an introduction that describes the...

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...

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...

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...