Was the United States ready for Pearl Harbor?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g912/ready.html
A lesson plan for grade 11 Social Studies
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the United States’ level of preparedness for the attack and think about what the U.S. could have done to be better prepared. Activities in this lesson engage students in whole class discussion, online research, and writing assignments.
Students will:
- describe what they already know about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor;
- hypothesize the reasons why the United States suffered such severe losses at Pearl Harbor;
- conduct Internet research on Pearl Harbor, and answer some questions about the United States’ level of preparedness for the attack; and
- imagine that they can go back in time, and write letters explaining to American military commanders at Pearl Harbor what they can do to prepare for a Japanese attack.
Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, discussion questions, and links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 11–12 — Advanced Placement United States History
- Goal 13: World War II (1930-1945): The learner will trace the reemergence of the United States in world affairs, including analyzing the causes and effects of the United States involvement in World War II.
- Objective 13.02: Identify the causes of World War II and trace the events that led to the US entry into the war.
- Objective 13.03: Describe the military, political and diplomatic turning points of the war and evaluate their significance to the outcome.
Grade 11–12 — United States History
- Goal 10: World War II and the Beginning of the Cold War (1930s-1963) - The learner will analyze United States involvement in World War II and the war's influence on international affairs in following decades.
- Objective 10.01: Elaborate on the causes of World War II and reasons for United States entry into the war.
- Objective 10.02: Identify military, political, and diplomatic turning points of the war and determine their significance to the outcome and aftermath of the conflict.
