| European Theater During World War II |
| Newsreel video footage from 1944 and 1945, showing the Allies preparing and carrying out the invasion of Normandy, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge and the eventual fall of the Third Reich and surrender of Germany. This video accompanies The Price of Freedom: Americans at War online exhibit and it meant to be used with the “Battle of the Bulge: Americans Respond to a German Surprise” lesson plan. Targets grades 2-12. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): All grades |
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| Battle of the Bulge: Americans Respond to a German Surprise |
| Lesson plan using a video clip and primary sources to develop an understanding of the challenges facing the ground troops during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge. Students use this understanding to roleplay one of those soldiers and write a letter home. Includes background information and full-color primary sources. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): 9–12 |
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| Native Words, Native Warriors |
| Online exhibit examines how Native code talkers used their languages to serve their country and to continue the warrior tradition during World Wars I and II. Contains a large collection of pictures, stories, and audio interviews/tours that follow the story of the Native American code talkers from before the war to coping with life afterwards. |
| Provider: National Museum of the American Indian |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): General audience |
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| When the Going Was Good: The Golden Age of Commercial Air Travel |
| Online exhibition the early days of air travel and the ways airlines used glamour and excitement to encourage people to fly rather than take trains or boats. |
| Provider: National Air and Space Museum |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8 |
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| Answering the Call 1917-1945 |
| Section of the online exhibit On the Water: Stories from Maritime America focused on the importance of the huge U.S. merchant fleet that supported soldiers fighting overseas in both world wars. Learn about the men and women who built the ships and risked their lives sailing them while playing a vital and unheralded role in the American war effort. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Letters from the Japanese American Internment |
| Lessons based on letters from young people in an Arizona internment camp to a librarian in their hometown of San Diego. Students piece together a story by comparing these primary-source documents—documents that help to show that history is never a single story. |
| Provider: Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| Art to Zoo: “Give It Your Best!”: Civilian Contributions to the Home Front (1988) |
| Lesson plan that introduces students to efforts on the home front during World War II, as illustrated by media messages. Students take on a wartime persona by writing a V-mail letter. Includes facsimile of a V-mail form. |
| Provider: Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8 |
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| Changing Gender Roles on the World War II Home Front |
| Lesson plan examining changing gender roles on the American home front during World War II. Students analyze photographs and wartime advertisements related to “Rosie the Riveter,” then conduct their own research project on women during World War II. Targets grades 6-12. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| Mobilizing Children on the World War II Homefront |
| Lesson plan examining propaganda cartoons and other primary sources to analyze how young Americans have been mobilized for war. Students will analyze the intent and purpose behind these images and explore how the government attempted to unite the country behind the war effforts. Targets grades 6-9. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| United We Stand: Magazine Cover Analysis |
| Lesson plan using magazine covers from the United We Stand online exhibit to show the importance of efforts on the home front to the war effort in World War II and the role magazine publishers played in promoting national unity, supporting World War II, and selling war bonds. Students will analyze and interpret magazine covers from the July 1942 “United We Stand” magazine campaign and design their own magazine covers. Targets grades 6-8. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): 4–8 |
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