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This unit introduces students to the World War II era—a time when all Americans were called upon to make sacrifices to help the war effort. The activities are designed to aid students in defining the time period of 1935-1945, including the leadership during this era, the citizens greatly affected during this time period, and the historical choices that were made.
The trade books for the Primary section of this unit are Welcome to Molly’s World, 1944: Growing Up in World War II America; But No Candy; Pearl Harbor; and The Children of Topaz: The Story of a Japanese-American Internment Camp. The trade books for the Upper Elementary portion of the unit are The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won; Josie Poe: Palouse, Washington, 1943; Eddie Spaghetti on the Homefront; and I Am an American: A True Story of Japanese Internment. The unit does not include the actual children's literature books.
Classroom activities include writing and deciphering codes, using ration stamps, finding the sites of Japanese relocation camps, and drawing zoot suits. Students also use Venn diagrams, write letters, create time lines, make presentations, and evaluate the decisions of leaders of the period. Although activities are organized into primary and upper elementary sections, many assignments can be adapted to suit either age group.
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