Stephanie+D's+Thematic+Unit+Wiki

I talked to my teacher and decided I'd like to do the unit that focuses on "World at War," which includes WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII. Though I am in a seventh grade social studies class, since this year is a transition year it includes both theaters of the war. I haven't got too many specific ideas so far except that I would like to incorporate a lot of primary sources like footage from the war, interviews or letters from soldiers, etc. I want to make it real for the students and help them imagine what life was like then. My cooperating teacher mentioned she often uses the book Sadako and the 1,000 Paper Cranes in her class and has a sort of origami-day, which could potentially be fun. I'd also like to potentially use excerpts from novels set during WWII, especially if I can't find better primary sources corresponding to a certain topic.
 * Content Focus:**

Groupthink (how does someone like Hitler empower a nation?) Holocaust victims Japanese internment camps in America Influence of the war on American society (more women in the work force, etc.) Experiences of young soldiers in the war
 * Possible Themes:**

As a theme for the Unit, I'd like to focus on "Fearlessness in the face of Evil," or something along those lines. From that approach I would focus on individuals or groups who contributed to the war in a positive way, highlighting individuals who went against the grain. This would naturally lead to a discussion of why some people didn't act out.
 * Revised Theme:**


 * Potential Materials/Resources:**
 * [] (Oral histories from soldiers)
 * [] (activities involving rations, life for children during the war)
 * [] (lots of resources for lesson plans - propaganda, photos, letters, ideas for activities)
 * [] (lesson plan activities, photos, interviews, etc.)
 * Also clips from WWII footage, and clips from WWII movies (Band of Brothers, The Pacific)
 * Excerpts from novels - //The Book Thief, Milkweed, The Diary of Anne Frank, Night, Under a War Torn Sky//
 * Poetry and letters from soldiers and their families


 * Potential Activities:**
 * Write letters to each other as soldiers/families at home
 * Shop for goods using ration tickets
 * Create propaganda posters (contemporary or reflective of WWII)
 * Talk show skit featuring leading figures of WWII
 * Make sign posts of how many miles away battles are


 * Thematic Unit Step 3 - 11.1.12 (SND)**

Brief Evaluation Philosophy Draft (SND)

List of Evaluation Strategies Draft (SND)