Red Ball Express
Liberating the City of Lights
Liberating the City of Lights
This lesson will introduce students to the Red Ball Express and, more specifically, to the African Americans serving in Europe.
Liberating the City of Lights
Liberating the City of Lights
Liberating the City of Lights
Students will listen to George Mills’ depiction of the Liberation of Paris during WWII and read WWII Correspondent Ernie Pyle’s account of the liberation to create their own drawings or paintings of what they perceive that day to have looked like.
Operation Paperclip
Liberating the City of Lights
Operation Paperclip
World War II veteran Arthur Hullett became one of the first African Americans to work on Redstone Arsenal. After watching a video detailing Arthur’s meeting with Werner von Braun, students will learn about Operation Paperclip and the creation of America’s Space Program.
Donut Dollies
Liberating the City of Lights
Operation Paperclip
The American Red Cross recruited young women to serve in the war as morale builders. These women became known as the Donut Dollies. Through primary source analysis, this lesson will introduce students to the roles of these brave women, the dangers they faced, and how those roles changed during the wars.
A Big Loss for G.I's
I'll Never Forget That
Where They Are Buried
World War II veteran Ted Estridge fought in the Battle of Okinawa, where he was wounded. The tragic news of war was covered by thousands of WWII correspondents, but Ernie Pyle, killed in Okinawa, seemed to be the American G.I.’s favorite storyteller.
Where They Are Buried
I'll Never Forget That
Where They Are Buried
This lesson will introduce students to the burial procedures for soldiers killed in battle overseas during WWII. A focus will be on the American cemeteries overseas and the Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii.
I'll Never Forget That
I'll Never Forget That
I'll Never Forget That
World War II veteran Sherwin Callander served in the Navy. His ship arrived at Pearl Harbor after the attack, where he was tasked with search and rescue. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in over 2,000 casualties.
USS Indianapolis
I'll Never Forget That
I'll Never Forget That
The USS Indianapolis secretly transported parts of the atomic bomb later dropped on Hiroshima. Upon returning to the U.S., the ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific Ocean. This lesson will allow students to learn about the tragic incident, analyzing primary sources to understand the sacrifice of the sailors on the USS Indianapolis.
The Warnings at Pearl
The Warnings at Pearl
The Warnings at Pearl
This lesson will introduce students to the warnings and events that occurred prior to the early-morning attack that, if viewed differently, may have led to a different outcome at Pearl Harbor.
Five Beaches
The Warnings at Pearl
The Warnings at Pearl
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces landed on five beaches dotting the French coastline at Normandy. Each beach landing had its own story, including ones of success and ones of failure. In this lesson, students will meet Mr. Harold McMurran, a WWII veteran who landed on Utah Beach.
The H on Dog Tags
The Warnings at Pearl
The H on Dog Tags
This lesson will allow students to put themselves in the shoes of Jewish-American soldiers and decide whether they would agree to have the “H” for Hebrew engraved on their dog tags.
On Their Backs
The Warnings at Pearl
The H on Dog Tags
Each squadron in the U.S. Eighth Air Force used art on the back of their military-issued flight jackets to build crew morale and to establish their brotherhood. This lesson will educate students on the history of flight jacket art and allow them to create their own flight jacket art utilizing basic art skills.
Conditions of Surrender
Conditions of Surrender
Conditions of Surrender
In this lesson, students will analyze the official Instrument of Surrender to better understand its terms.
Tarawa in Pictures
Conditions of Surrender
Conditions of Surrender
Students will analyze photographs from the Battle of Tarawa, detailing the emotions the images evoke, and then answer a writing prompt regarding FDR’s policy to lift the censorship ban on the media in early 1943.
A Soldier's Persverance
Conditions of Surrender
A Soldier's Persverance
Students will determine the meaning of the word perseverance and provide personal examples. Once they have established the definition of the word, they will use this as a guide while viewing the interview of Charles Henry and determine how he persevered through his military career.
Faith on the Frontlines
Conditions of Surrender
A Soldier's Persverance
WWII veteran Ted Estridge struggled with his faith while fighting in Japan. After the war, he found renewed faith as he traveled back to Japan for forgiveness. Many soldiers in this war leaned on their faith or found faith while serving. This lesson addresses how faith in all religions was found on the front lines.
Surviving the Enemy
Communication at Sea
Communication at Sea
World War II veteran Otis Branon faced a savage enemy in Japanese soldiers while fighting in the Philippines. Once the Japanese took control of the Philippines in 1942, they captured American and Filipino prisoners of war. One of the most brutal moves made by the Japanese in WWII was the Bataan Death March.
Communication at Sea
Communication at Sea
Communication at Sea
This lesson will allow students to learn more about the use of signal flags during naval battles, as well as become familiar with the semaphore alphabet and decoding system.
Storm Over Normandy
Communication at Sea
Storm Over Normandy
One of the key players in the June 6, 1944, Normandy landings was the weather. The weather impacted the landings in various ways, including seasickness, difficulty getting off landing craft, scaling cliffs, and jumping into enemy territory. This lesson will allow students to get into the senses of the soldiers and sailors of the D-Day invasion.