American History

Unit

High School (11ht grade)  World War II

Aim

What were the motives of America in entering to World War II

Goalsobjectives
Read the primary document with understanding.
Develop understanding on the details of World War II.
Identify and analyze the involvements of the United States to World War II.
Draw conclusion on the interventions done by the United States about the war.
Examine the causes and effects of World War II to the political, social, and economic aspects of the world.

Main ideasunderstandings
World War II began on September 1, 1939 when Adolf Hitler invaded Poland.

Although it was the Soviet Union and the Red Army that turned back Nazi troops at Stalingrad over a year before the US launched its invasion of Normandy, the involvement of America to World War II somehow contributed to the downfall of Adolph Hitler.

Provisional Neutrality Act mandates that America should stay neutral to war unless its territory is directly affected or threatened.

This Neutrality Act put America to neutrality and isolationism for a very long time.
Isolationism was finally put to an end with the Lend Lease Act (1941) which states that America can sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government any defense article.

Even if the United States would like to extend help to Allies, the Neutrality Act blocked them. The US governments only help given to Great Britain during the war was selling weapons for their battle against the Nazi Germany.

America was triggered to join the war because of the surprise attack by the Japanese Airforce to Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941.

Materials

Historical timeline, Journal, American History book

Motivation

The students are encouraged to use historical timeline chart to organize and summarize what had happened during the World War II. Likewise, the students will also conduct brainstorming with the group to further discuss the effects of World War II in the social, economic and political aspects of the world.  Their observation can be written to their journal.

Activitiesquestionstransitions

America was triggered to join the war because of the surprise attack by the Japanese Airforce to Pearl Harbor on December 6, 1941. If Japan did not attack Pearl Harbor, do you think America will not join in the war

The involvement of America to World War II contributed to the downfall of Adolph Hitler. Do you think the war will not be put to its end if America did not intervene
Neutrality Act put America to neutrality and isolationism for a very long time. Without this act, do you think America will have its immediate involvement in the war

Summary

Based on the readings that we have done, what do you think is the most important role of America in the World War II

Application

Do you think America had spared significant contributions to the World War II

Homework assignment

Answer the question below in your journal

If you were Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, would you allow Neutrality Act to hinder America in the World War II Explain your answer.

In order to demonstrate literacy in the classroom through this lesson, the teacher can use the activity writing reflection in the journal about the movie watched in the motivation part. Aside from using it as a motivation, this could also serve as a spring board to promote literacy in the lesson.

As to the inclusion of the lesson, the teacher can use lecture-discussion method in the further elaboration of the topic, Socratic Method (question and answer) to validate students learning, and writing activity for the application part.