ALEX Lesson Plan

     

"Cheer, Cheer, for the 'Red, White, and Blue!'" University and High School Students' Contributions and Participation During the World Wars

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  This lesson provided by:  
Author:Joseph Cordi
System: Sylacauga City
School: Sylacauga City Board Of Education
The event this resource created for:Alabama Department of Archives and History
  General Lesson Information  
Lesson Plan ID: 35698

Title:

 "Cheer, Cheer, for the 'Red, White, and Blue!'" University and High School Students' Contributions and Participation During the World Wars

Overview/Annotation:

Students will examine and evaluate both college and high school students' support of and involvement in the World Wars. Students will research both photographic and textual resources in order to produce factual information about how students reacted to World Wars 1 and 2. This lesson will culminate in a student-driven Socratic Seminar-style discussion which will allow the students to verbally articulate their findings from the resources provided.

This lesson was created in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

 Associated Standards and Objectives 
Content Standard(s):
Social Studies
SS2010 (2010)
Grade: 11
United States History II: The Industrial Revolution to the Present
4 ) Describe causes, events, and the impact of military involvement of the United States in World War I, including mobilization and economic and political changes. [A.1.a., A.1.b., A.1.d., A.1.f., A.1.i., A.1.j., A.1.k.]

•  Identifying the role of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism in World War I
•  Explaining controversies over the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, and the League of Nations
•  Explaining how the Treaty of Versailles led to worsening economic and political conditions in Europe, including greater opportunities for the rise of fascist states in Germany, Italy, and Spain
•  Comparing short- and long-term effects of changing boundaries in pre- and post-World War I in Europe and the Middle East, leading to the creation of new countries
Unpacked Content
Strand: Economics, Geography, History, Civics and Government
Course Title: United States History II: The Industrial Revolution to the Present
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Analyze the causes and events of the United States' military involvement in World War I in order to determine the long-term social, political, and economic impact on the United States.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • World War I
  • Treaty of Versailles
  • mobilization
  • imperialism
  • nationalism
  • militarism
  • nativism
  • fascist
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • The causes, events, and the impact of military involvement of the United States in World War I.
  • Social and political changes and attitudes in the United States related to involvement in World War I, including: American neutrality, mobilization, economic changes, and political changes.
  • The role of imperialism, militarism, nationalism, nativism, and the alliance system in World War I.
  • Geographical and political boundaries of Europe and the Middle East, pre- and post-World War I.
  • Controversies over the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, and the League of Nations.
  • Short- and long-term effects of the Treaty of Versailles.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Explain the changing role of the United States during specific historical periods and in relationship to specific historical events.
  • Describe the effects of political and social movements and ideologies.
  • Analyze the social and political causes, events, and impact of specific historical events.
  • Identify geographical and political changes related to specific historical events.
  • Analyze controversies related to political policies, plans, and agreements.
  • Analyze primary and secondary sources.
  • Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • There were many causes and effects of the United States' military involvement in World War I and these had significant social, political, and economic impact on the United States.
Alabama Archives Resources:
Click below to access all Alabama Archives resources aligned to this standard.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SS.AAS.11.4- Define militarism, nationalism, imperialism, and alliances; understand that the United States entry into World War I had a significant impact on the outcome of the war; identify the consequences of World War I.
Social Studies
SS2010 (2010)
Grade: 11
United States History II: The Industrial Revolution to the Present
10 ) Describe the impact of World War II on the lives of American citizens, including wartime economic measures, population shifts, growth in the middle class, growth of industrialization, advancements in science and technology, increased wealth in the African-American community, racial and ethnic tensions, Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (G. I. Bill of Rights), and desegregation of the military. [A.1.b., A.1.c., A.1.d., A.1.e., A.1.g., A.1.i., A.1.k.]

•  Describing Alabama's participation in World War II, including the role of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Aliceville Prisoner of War (POW) camp, growth of the Port of Mobile, production of Birmingham steel, and the establishment of military bases (Alabama)
Unpacked Content
Strand: Economics, Geography, History, Civics and Government
Course Title: United States History II: The Industrial Revolution to the Present
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Describe WWII's domestic impact and its lasting effects on the political, social, and economic environment of the United States, including the participation of and impact on Alabama.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • wartime economic measures
  • G.I. Bill of Rights
  • desegregation
  • Tuskegee Airmen
  • Aliceville POW camp
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • The impact of WWII on national economic issues.
  • Population shifts that occurred as a result of WWII.
  • Social changes in the nation, including the growth of the middle class.
  • The growth of industrialization in the nation and the impact of this growth.
  • Advancements in science and technology and the lasting impact of these advancements.
  • Changes in racial dynamics, including increased wealth in the African-American community, desegregation of the military, and changes in the racial and ethnic tensions in the nation.
  • Political actions that impacted the effects of the war, including the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.
  • Alabama's participation in WWII, including the role of Tuskegee Airmen, Aliceville Prisoner of War camp, the growth of the Port of Mobile, production of Birmingham steel, and the establishment of military bases.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media.
  • Evaluate an author's premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information related to historical events.
  • Read and comprehend historical texts independently and proficiently on various topics related to events that led to WWII and the effect of those events on American foreign policy today.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • There was a significant domestic impact from WWII with lasting effects on the political, social, and economic environment of the United States.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SS.AAS.11.10- Recognize major changes in the lives of Americans during World War II and how Alabama participated in the war.
SS.AAS.11.10a - Identify Women's participation in World War II including industry and volunteerism.
SS.AAS.11.10b - Identify the role of African Americans in World War II including the Tuskegee Airmen.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 11
R3. Utilize active listening skills in formal and informal conversations, following predetermined norms.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
R3.
  • Active listening
  • Formal conversations
  • Informal conversations
  • Predetermined norms
Knowledge:
R3. Students know:
  • Active listening skills.
  • Strategies to identify formal and informal settings.
  • Engage in formal and informal conversations.
  • Predetermined norms for formal and informal discussions.
Skills:
R3. Students are able to:
  • Demonstrate active listening skills during formal and informal discussions.
  • Practice predetermined norms for formal and informal discussions.
Understanding:
R3. Students understand that:
  • Conversations and discussions follow predetermined norms which help us actively listen and gain understanding.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 11
6. Analyze a text's explicit and implicit meanings to make inferences about its theme and determine the author's purpose.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
6.
  • Analyze
  • Explicit
  • Implicit
  • Inferences
  • Theme
  • Author's purpose
Knowledge:
6. Students know:
  • Strategies to comprehend explicit and implicit text meaning.
  • Inference skills.
  • Methods to identify the theme and purpose of a text.
Skills:
6. Students are able to:
  • Making inferences about the theme and purpose of a text by analyzing a text's explicit and implicit meanings.
Understanding:
6. Students understand that:
  • Text often has an explicitly stated meaning and an implied meaning.
  • They can combine their explicit and implicit understanding to infer the theme and the author's purpose for writing the text.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 11
24. Evaluate the credibility of sources in terms of authority, relevance, accuracy, and purpose.

a. Assess the usefulness of written information to answer a research question, solve a problem, or take a position.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
24.
  • Evaluate
  • Credibility
  • Authority
  • Relevance
  • Accuracy
  • Purpose
24a.
  • Assess
  • Written information
Knowledge:
24. Students know:
  • Strategies to assess the credibility of research sources.
  • Features of authoritative, relevant, and accurate research sources.
24a.
  • Strategies to locate relevant and credible written information.
  • Credible information is accurate and reliable.
  • Criteria to determine the usefulness a research source.
  • Information learned through reading can be used to answer a research question, solve a problem, or take a position.
Skills:
24. Students are able to:
  • Evaluate the credibility of research sources in terms of authority, relevance, accuracy, and purpose.
24a.
  • Locate useful written information in the research process.
  • Determine the usefulness of a research source.
  • Use research findings to answer a research question, solve a problem, or take a position.
Understanding:
24. Students understand that:
  • Before using a source in their research projects, they should evaluate the credibility of the source in terms of its authority, relevance, accuracy, and purpose.
24a.
  • It is necessary to determine the usefulness of a source before using it as evidence to answer a research question, solve a problem, or take a position.

Local/National Standards:

National Council on Social Studies

NCSS - C9-12.3 Principles of Democracy

How Does the government Established by the Constitution embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy?

 

Primary Learning Objective(s):

  1. Students will evaluate photographic and complex textual evidence in order to research a specific topic in history.

  2. Students will formulate, and articulate through writing and verbalization, responses to a specific prompt regarding high school and university students’ reactions to the World Wars in America.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

  
 Preparation Information 

Total Duration:

61 to 90 Minutes

Materials and Resources:

For this lesson, the following resources are necessary:

1. personal electronic devices for each student (if this is not available, hard copies of each resource and assessment can be provided)

2. electronic access or hard copy of the photograph:  1918:  API Joins the American Expeditionary Force from Auburn University Digital Library

3. Electronic access or hard copy of the following article:  Auburn University from Encyclopedia of Alabama regarding student military involvement in WWI at what is now Auburn University. 

4. Electronic access or hard copy of the following article:  The University of Alabama in WWI from Summersell Center for the Study of the South regarding student military involvement in WWI at the University of Alabama. 

5. Electronic access to the World War II Museum’s feature portraying high school yearbooks from the 1940’s:  National WWII Museum Feature Involving High School Yearbooks from the 1940’s.  (If no access to the internet is available, the lesson can be modified to only include research of the hard copy articles regarding college students.)

6. Socratic Seminar Instructions and Rubric

7. Guided Examination of the Photo/Texts

8. Paper and pencil

Technology Resources Needed:

All aspects of this lesson except the "1940s High School Yearbook Compilation" can be completed even if the students do not have access to personal electronic devices. However, in the past, my students have been able to access the Yearbook part perfectly with their cell phones.

1. Personal Electronic Devices for students or the students could be grouped if a few students have cell phones or laptops in the classroom.

2. Access to the internet (hard copies) can be prepared if the students do not have access to the internet.

Background/Preparation:

This lesson fits best toward the end of a WWI unit. Before this lesson begins, the students should understand the general timeline of WWI. For example, they should know that the war began in 1914; the U.S. did not declare war and enact its first Conscription Act until 1917. They should know that the war came to an end in 1918. Even if WWII has not been covered yet, the teacher only needs to simply preview the year that America will enter WWII as a point of reference.  

Additional information for the teacher can be found at the following links:  World War I and Alabama from Encyclopedia of Alabama  http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1545 

World War II and Alabama from Encyclopedia of Alabama  http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1348 

Auburn University from Encyclopedia of Alabama  http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1649

University of Alabama from Encyclopedia of Alabama  http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1678

  Procedures/Activities: 

Before the Lesson:

Before the lesson, any hard copies of handouts should be distributed.  If students have access to the internet as well as enough or limited personal electronic devices, the teacher should proceed to direct the students to each link they will need to complete the various aspects of the lessons:

1. Photograph of API Cadets: 1918 API Joins the American Expeditionary Force

2. Article about Auburn during WWI:  Auburn University from Encyclopedia of Alabama

3. Article about Alabama during WWI:  The University of Alabama in WWI from The Summersell Center for the Study of the South.

4. Directions on how to access the high school yearbooks from the National WWII Museum Feature Involving High School Yearbooks from the 1940s.

5. Guided Examination of the photo and texts

6. Socratic Seminar instructions and rubric  (This activity will be the first formative assessment.)

The teacher should then have students either work independently or with a partner to examine the photograph and text.  Then either independently or with the same partner, answer the questions that go along with the photograph and text.  (This activity will be the second formative assessment.)  

Once the students have completed the assignment (timing may vary for different classes), have the students get with an elbow partner and discuss their findings from the article (formative assessment). This will give them a chance to process their answers as well as briefly discuss what other classmates discovered.  

During the Lesson:

The students should have a copy of the Socratic Seminar instructions and rubric. At this point, the teacher should discuss the structure and the expectations of the Seminar with the students. Place the students in a circle (or where each student can see the other eye to eye). It is at the teacher's discretion what the leading prompt or question should be to get the Seminar started. It is also at the teacher's discretion when and where to intervene during the Seminar.  (Don't be afraid of small stints of awkward silence.) Once everyone has had at least one opportunity to participate, the Seminar should come to an end (summative assessment).

Examples of 3 prompts to begin discussion during the seminar:

1. What similarities did you find as you examined how various high schools portrayed wartime in their yearbooks?

2. What differences did you find as you examined how various high schools portrayed wartime in their yearbooks?

3. What are some details in the photograph that indicates the individual's mood?

After the Lesson:

The teacher should ask the following question as an "exit slip" to be turned in before leaving the classroom that day:

"From the photograph that you examined, the articles that you read, and finally the authentic high school yearbooks that you evaluated, would you determine that high school and university students overall supported or did not support the war efforts during WWI and WWII?  Give 2 specific examples to support your answer."  (This will serve as a summative assessment )

Bibliography:

Culver, M. (2017, May & June). The University of Alabama in WWI. Retrieved July 22, 2017, from https://summersell.ua.edu/student-research/the-university-of-alabama-in-wwi/

N. (n.d.). See You Next Year: High School Yearbooks From WWII. Retrieved July 22, 2017, from http://www.ww2yearbooks.org/home/

Logue, Mickey, and Jack Simms. "1918: API Joins the American Expeditionary Force." Auburn The Loveliest Village Photograph Collection. Auburn University Libraries, 2013. Web. 30 July 2017.

Olliff, Martin T. "Auburn University (AU)." Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University Outreach, 18 Aug. 2008. Web. 30 July 2017.

Center, Clark E. "University of Alabama (UA)." Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University Outreach, 12 Sept. 2008. Web. 30 July 2017.

Cronenberg, Allen T. "World War II and Alabama." Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University Outreach, 14 Sept. 2007. Web. 30 July 2017.

Olliff, Martin T. "World War I and Alabama." Encyclopedia of Alabama. Auburn University Outreach, 22 May 2008. Web. 30 July 2017.

U.S. History.org (2017). The American Home front. Retrieved August 01, 2017, from http://www.ushistory.org/us/51b.asp


  Assessment  

Assessment Strategies

Formative Assessment: Guided Reading Questions

Summative Assessment: Socratic Seminar (evaluated using the rubric)

Summative Assessment cont: Exit Slip Question

Acceleration:

Students who would like to pursue an enrichment activity should research 3 more of the high school yearbooks and present to the class their findings as an extension of the original guided reading question regarding the yearbooks.

Extended Reading List:

An excellent source for more information regarding Americans supporting the war efforts on the homefront can be found at: 

http://www.ushistory.org/us/51b.asp

Intervention:

*All specific accommodations or modifications to this assignment should be made according to any student's IEP.  

One example of an intervention strategy would be to have a student only examine the photo and one article instead of the other materials. Also, the questions from the guided reading could be shortened to only one of the student's choosing for each resource.


View the Special Education resources for instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.
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