*Note to all parents: The intent of this WebQuest is for students to understand how the United States became a world power in the 20th century. This WebQuest will be completed with the support of the 5th grade teachers, and the computer teacher.
World War II killed more people and destroyed more property than any war in history. The war was fought on three continents, and over 17 million people died in combat alone. The war pitted the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) against the Allies (democratic nations-including Great Britain, the former USSR, France and the United States).
On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked the United States at the naval base in Pearl Harbor. This led to the United States joining the Allies. Our involvement in the war changed the lives of all Americans. Most Americans pitched in and contributed to the war effort. Food was rationed. Factories were set up to produce war materials. Women entered the work force in mass for the first time in history. The United States provided much needed man power and superior technology to the Allies.
World War II was a defining moment in United States history. It led to the United States becoming a world power.
You are a team of American journalists working for the New York Times during the years 1941 through 1945. Your assignment is to cover the United States involvement in World War II. Your articles will be focusing on four major issues.
1. The social and economic changes on the homefront
2. The role of women in World War II
3. Technology used in World War II and the influence of radio/media
4. Pearl Harbor/internment camps
· Publish 4 articles focusing on the four major issues
· Define World War II vocabulary
· Make a World War II scrapbook
· Design a Hyperstudio quiz about World War II
You and your team of reporters will investigate World War II Web sites and publish four news articles for the New York Times. Please click here to print out guidelines for your article.
Click here forTeacher Rubric For News Articles
Use the following Web sites to find out the information needed to publish these four articles.
What did you do in the war, Grandma?
New_technology used_in_World_War_Two
Technology_during_World_War_II
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Day of Infamy Speech
Turning Points: One Sunday in December: Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor
Dozens of links on WWII articles
Visual materials used by the Nazi Regime
Collection of many sites on WWII
Step Two
Print out and define the vocabulary words on this page.
Use this site to find the definitions of the words.
Each one of you will create an individual World War II scrapbook. Click here for a checklist of what must be included in your scrapbook.
Each of you will design a hyperstudio quiz. Your hyperstudio quiz will have a minimum of eight cards consisting of a title card, four question cards, a "You are Correct Card," a "Sorry…Try again Card," and a "Thank You for Playing Card." Each one of your four questions will deal with one of the major issues listed in The Task.
You and your team will evaluate yourselves with the student/teacher rubric.
Congratulations! You and your team have won a Pulitzer Prize for your excellent news reporting on World War II.
