LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

W.A.R. (Wars Are Real)

This lesson plan allows students to research various American wars and conflicts that have occurred during the history of our country. It is designed as an end of the year project to cover a lot of our history in a short amount of time.

A lesson plan for grade 8 Social Studies

By Jane Landreth

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • learn the dates, countries, locations, and major causes of America’s involvement in various wars and conflicts.
  • research what life was like for the people who lived in the decade in which the selected war occurred.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 to weeks

Materials/resources

3″ x 5″ notecards
W.A.R. information summary sheet (attached)
pencil or pen
any resource books about war
newspaper clippings
names of selected wars/conflicts on small cards
Overhead transparency for Time Line quiz (or handout)
magazine articles, etc.
art supplies (optional)
old magazines to cut up (optional)

Technology resources

internet access (optional)
two days in the computer lab (optional)
Powerpoint software (optional)

Pre-activities

Students will need to know:

  • how to take notes on notecards
  • how to cite a source
  • background information up to the time of their war
  • how to make a Powerpoint presentation. (optional)

Teachers will need to know:

  • which wars/conflicts will be studied
  • background info up to (and including) each war
  • suggestions for resources
  • Internet sites (optional)

Activities

Activity 1: (One day)

  1. Discuss the purpose of this mini-project. (Students will research and report on chosen wars/conflicts including what life was like during the decade of their war.)
  2. Allow each student to pick from “the hat” a card on which the name of a war/conflict has been written.
  3. The teacher will record what each student has drawn and give deadlines and schedules for due dates, computer lab, finished product, etc. (Note: be flexible when recording the chosen wars as some students may want to change in order to share souvenirs, pictures, other items from the war in which they have had a relative/friend serve.)

Activity 2: (Four to five days)

  1. The teacher will distribute copies of the information summary sheet and explain the sections.
  2. Students will begin taking notes on their note cards including finding the specific information asked for on the information summary sheet as well as any information they choose to include in the final section, “What was life like during the decade of your war?”

Activity 3: (Two to three days)

  1. Students will prepare an oral presentation for their project. (Optional: may be a Powerpoint presentation.)
  2. Students will prepare a visual aid such as a collage, poster, memorabilia, etc. (Optional: may be a Powerpoint presentation.)
  3. If students plan to invite a friend or relative as a guest speaker, they must submit questions for an interview.

Activity 4: (Two to three days)

  1. Students will present the projects in the correct chronological order of the selected wars/conflicts.
  2. All students will take notes on the presentations (name of student, war, date, interesting info, etc.)

Assessment

Student assessment will include:

  • Minimum of 20 notecards
  • Completed W.A.R. information summary sheet
  • Visual aid (Optional: Powerpoint presentation)
  • Oral presentations (and notes taken of others’ presentations)
  • Time Line quiz (match the wars with the dates)
  • See attachment for scoring suggestions

Supplemental information

none

Related websites

http://www.historyguy.com
http://www.nationalgeographic.com
http://www.pbs.org
ask.com (Search “decades” for some very interesting information)

Comments

none

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 8

  • Goal 1: The learner will analyze important geographic, political, economic, and social aspects of life in the region prior to the Revolutionary Period.
    • Objective 1.03: Compare and contrast the relative importance of differing economic, geographic, religious, and political motives for European exploration.
    • Objective 1.05: Describe the factors that led to the founding and settlement of the American colonies including religious persecution, economic opportunity, adventure, and forced migration.
    • Objective 1.06: Identify geographic and political reasons for the creation of a distinct North Carolina colony and evaluate the effects on the government and economics of the colony.
  • Goal 2: The learner will trace the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War, and assess the impact of major events, problems, and personalities during the Constitutional Period in North Carolina and the new nation.
    • Objective 2.01: Trace the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and evaluate their relative significance in the onset of hostilities.
    • Objective 2.02: Describe the contributions of key North Carolina and national personalities from the Revolutionary War era and assess their influence on the outcome of the war.
    • Objective 2.03: Examine the role of North Carolina in the Revolutionary War.
    • Objective 2.04: Examine the reasons for the colonists' victory over the British, and evaluate the impact of military successes and failures, the role of foreign interventions, and on going political and economic domestic issues.
  • Goal 3: The learner will identify key events and evaluate the impact of reform and expansion in North Carolina during the first half of the 19th century.
    • Objective 3.01: Describe the causes of the War of 1812 and analyze the impact of the war on North Carolina and the nation.
    • Objective 3.02: Investigate the conditions that led to North Carolina's economic, political, and social decline during this period and assess the implications for the future development of the state.
  • Goal 4: The learner will examine the causes, course, and character of the Civil War and Reconstruction, and their impact on North Carolina and the nation.
    • Objective 4.02: Describe the political and military developments of the Civil War and analyze their effect on the outcome of the war.
    • Objective 4.03: Assess North Carolina's role in the Civil War and analyze the social and economic impact of the war on the state.
    • Objective 4.04: Evaluate the importance of the roles played by individuals at the state and national levels during the Civil War and Reconstruction Period.
  • Goal 5: The learner will evaluate the impact of political, economic, social, and technological changes on life in North Carolina from 1870 to 1930.
    • Objective 5.06: Describe North Carolina's reaction to the increasing United States involvement in world affairs including participation in World War I, and evaluate the impact on the state's economy.
  • Goal 6: The learner will analyze the immediate and long-term effects of the Great Depression and World War II on North Carolina.
    • Objective 6.02: Describe the significance of major events and military engagements associated with World War II and evaluate the impact of the war on North Carolina.
    • Objective 6.03: Examine the significance of key ideas and individuals associated with World War II.
    • Objective 6.04: Assess the impact of World War II on the economic, political, social, and military roles of different groups in North Carolina including women and minorities.
  • Goal 7: The learner will analyze changes in North Carolina during the postwar period to the 1970's.
    • Objective 7.04: Compare and contrast the various political viewpoints surrounding issues of the post World War II era.