World War II WebQuest

Introduction

World War II resulted in the United States becoming a global leader in economics. This war was ultimately a battle against fascism and the threat to democracy. World War II represented Global Alliances, and resulted in more casualties than any other war we have ever seen. As a columnist for the New York World-Telegram, it is your job to spread news to the people of the nation. After completing the webquest and learning about events such as the Holocaust, D-Day, Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, you will be able to create a newspaper column for the United States citizens on the home front.

Task

You are a columnist for a leading newspaper in the United States. In groups of two, answer the following questions:

  1. What is fascism and the characteristics?
  2. Who were the Allie Powers and the Axis Powers?
  3. What was Adolf Hitler’s “Final Solution”?
  4. Where did D-Day occur?
  5. When did Pearl Harbor occur, and what was is this day known as?
  6. On what cities were atomic bombs dropped on?
  7. What were the names of the bombs dropped?
  8. What was the role of women during the war?
  9. Was there moral value in regards to dropping atomic bombs?
  10. Could more steps have been taken to prevent the Holocaust?
  11. What was transformation of the United States economy?

After completing the questions, create 2 news columns on two World War II topics of your choice. This will be complied with the work of other students to go in the final newspaper. 

Process
  • On the following sites, you will learn about World War II and the characteristics: 

      1. This is an overview of the battles and rising tensions that led up/occured during Wolrd War II. You will also find a background about the major players.

      2.  This is where you will discover the political theory of fascism, and its use leading into the war.

      3. The following link is where you will learn about the important role women played (In the war and on the home front)

      4.  To get a sense of how the soldiers were feeling, watch this D-Day event refelction of veteran, Sergio Moirano.

      5. Answer the following questions from the task page before you start on your columns. 

      6. You will now look over the guidelines for newsletter columns in Microsoft Word on the following link. 

7. With your partner, you will create two newspaper columns in Microsft Word (Preferably Times New Romans, Size 12 Font) depicting two different events, countries, leaders, or roles of the war. In each, include at least one image. These will be compiled to create a class newspaper. 

     

Evaluation

Category

4

3

2

1
Purpose of Columns Students demonstrate a clear understanding and create columns using an effective lead, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion.The students are aware of their audience and time period.  The students have a clear purpose, and use a lead, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. The students are aware of audience but lack some details. The students have a purpose, but leave out important details. The students use correct paragraph structure but lack audience awareness. The students do not demonstrate a clear understanding, praragraph structure, or audience awareness. 
Details Details depict the time, and are effective and vivid, showing support to the main topic.  Deatils depict the time period, but leave out some parts of the event. Details do not capture the time period but have depicts the event. Details do not capture the time period and are not effective.
Graphics Graphics/Images are related to the topic and are well placed.  Images are related to the topic. Images are cluttered, or are only somewhat related to the topic. Images are not related to the topic and are distracting to the reader.
Headlines and Captions Headlines and captions capture the reader's attention and are effective for the time period. Headlines and captions accurately describe the content. Some of the headlines and captions describe the content. Headlines and actions do not describe the content.
Knowledge Students completed the questions and used content from the websites to support their topics. Studetns demonstrated higher level thinking. Students completed the questions and used the websites for their topics. Students completed most of the questions and used the websites some to support their topics. Students did not complete their questions or use the websites to support their topics.
Conclusion

Hopefully you have more insight on the events of World War II. We will now "publish" our newspaper and share our columns with the class.