World War II

Embark on this WebQuest to investigate the major events, leaders, and outcomes of World War II, including how geography and propaganda played a role in shaping the war’s direction and legacy.

Create an interactive map and a persuasive analysis of WWII propaganda, concluding with a short report on the long-term effects of the war.

• Key Battles: Use Google Earth to map out major battles like D-Day, Stalingrad, and Pearl Harbor. Annotate each site with strategic details.
• World Leaders: Research and compare the leadership styles of Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Adolf Hitler using resources such as History.com and National Archives.
• Propaganda Analysis: Collect examples of WWII propaganda posters and analyze them using Canva. Identify the persuasive techniques used and their impact.
• Create a Digital Artifact: Design a digital scrapbook using Storyjumper or My Story Book that includes maps, analysis, and leader profiles.
• Interactive Peer Review: Share your scrapbook on Google Classroom for peer feedback.

Scored on research quality, creativity, critical thinking, and depth of analysis.

• Research Depth (20 points): Investigates battles, leaders, and propaganda thoroughly using a variety of reliable sources.
• Geographic Analysis (15 points): Successfully uses Google Earth to annotate and describe strategic battle locations with clear, relevant details.
• Propaganda Analysis (15 points): Provides a critical examination of propaganda pieces, identifying techniques and their effects with thoughtful explanations.
• Digital Artifact Quality (15 points): Creates a comprehensive digital scrapbook with clear, engaging, and cohesive elements using tools like Storyjumper or My Story Book.
• Creativity and Originality (15 points): Demonstrates originality in the approach to design and analysis.
• Peer Review Engagement (10 points): Actively participates in peer review with constructive and insightful feedback.
• Final Reflection (10 points): Includes a reflective summary that connects WWII learnings to modern-day global politics.

• Excellent (85-100 points): Excels in all areas with well-rounded, detailed work.
• Good (75-84 points): Meets most requirements with a solid effort and well-cited research.
• Satisfactory (65-74 points): Completes the assignment but shows less depth or insight.
• Needs Improvement (below 65 points): Missing key components or lacks sufficient detail.

Social Studies/History (Grade 8)

• §113.20 (b)(7): The student understands the causes and significant events of World War II.
• §113.20 (b)(20): The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of sources about the impact of WWII.