National Park Service
Remembering Pearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial
Young historians use primary source materials to investigate the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the USS Arizona. After reading background articles and studying maps and images of the attack, class members consider whether...
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Lesson 3: Japan's "Southern Advance" and the March toward War, 1940-1941
High school historians interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources to decide if the southern advance was a reckless step toward war, or if it was reasonable. They research the Japanese southern advance tactics during the...
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Pearl Harbor
Students identify the location of Pearl Harbor and Hawaiian Islands on a map. In this map skills lesson, students use latitude and longitude coordinates to locate various places of importance of the Pearl Harbor attack.
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A Boy at War: A novel about Pearl Harbor by Harry Mazer
This A Boy At War PowerPoint introduces the historical context of the novel and information about the novel's author. Facts and trivia about Pearl Harbor that are relevant to the novel's plot are reviewed. Historical photos and a map of...
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Surprise at Pearl Harbor
Students review the concept of courage and relate it to their daily life. As a class, they are introduced to the events of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Using a map, they locate Hawai'i and label the islands. They use the internet to...
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America Enters WWII
Middle schoolers analyze the attack on Pearl Harbor. In this World History lesson, students research the events that led to the attack of Pearl Harbor then discuss the what happened after the attack. They finish the lesson with writing...
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The failure of Diplomacy, September-December 1941
Students investigate four main issues of concern between US and Japan prior to US involvement in World War II. In this role play lesson, students will take the role of US and Japanese negotiators trying to find a diplomatic solution to...
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Where in the World War? Mapping the Geography of D-Day
Pupils examine how to read maps for historical information. They listen to a lecture on the history of D-Day, analyze a historical map of the invasion of Normandy, and answer discussion questions.
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Pacific War Timeline
Students visit the George Bush Gallery of the Pacific War where they complete a timeline of important events. Prior to the visit, they create a blank timeline from 1937 to 1945 and fill in events discovered at the museum. After the...
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Mapmaking: Colorado Quarter Reverse
Students examine the Colorado quarter reverse and draw symbols of the state's land and water features on maps. Using copies of the Colorado reverse, they color the coin design. They list reasons for the state's motto of "Colorful Colorado"
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Turning the Tide in the Pacific, 1941-1943
Students analyze the Japanese strategy for the Pacific and compare it to the Allied strategy. They identify on a map the sites that were important the early war in the Pacific, and identify key military engagements.
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Under the Sea
In this ship wreck worksheet, students read the information beneath each famous wrecked ship. Students then draw a line from the picture of the ship to the point on the map where it currently rests under the sea..
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Turning the Tide in the Pacific, 1941-1943
High schoolers explore the overall strategies pursued by the Japanese and the Allies in the initial months of World War II. What each side hoped to accomplish what what actually happened forms the basis of a comparison made in this...
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The Great Debate: Internationalists vs. Isolationists
Students examine the opposing arguments of the isolationists and internationalists in 1941. In this debate lesson, the students are divided into two opposing groups representing a position in a live, in- class debate. After the debate,...
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Airborne & Special Operations Museum- Grade 5
In this gallery scavenger hunt activity students answer 11 questions about the displays in the Airborne & Special Operations Museum (location unknown).
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Airborne & Special Operations Museum- Grade 8
In this gallery scavenger hunt activity students answer 18 questions about the displays in the Airborne & Special Operations Museum.
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My Secret War: Lesson 3
Fifth graders read My Secret War. In this social studies lesson, 5th graders discuss how United States citizens worked together to ensure success in the war. Students discuss primary and secondary sources. Students paraphrase.