Activities & Lessons
This blog is part of a monthly series on Shaped providing teachers for Grades 6–12 with downloadable world history classroom resources and discussion topics.
From 1939 to 1945, World War II claimed at least 50 million lives worldwide, making it the bloodiest conflict—as well as the largest war—in history.
It began on September 1, 1939, when Germany, under the control of the dictator Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. Hitler came to power by promising to restore Germany to greatness after its defeat in World War I and set out to expand Germany’s territory by conquering other countries in Europe. When Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany.
Early in the war, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality. However, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt took steps to oppose the Axis powers, which included Germany, Japan, and Italy. The U.S. provided food, oil, ships, planes, and weapons to the Allied Powers—Britain, China, the Soviet Union, and the French forces that continued to fight against the Axis after France’s surrender to Germany. The U.S. officially entered the war in December 1941 after Japanese forces attacked its naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Several days later, Germany declared war on the U.S.
World War II was more than an international struggle against tyranny; it also exposed the cruelty of which human beings are capable. During the war, Germany carried out the Holocaust, the extermination of six million Jews—men, women, and children—solely because of their religion. The full extent of the Holocaust was not known until the Allies defeated Germany and liberated the concentration camps where Jews and other people being targeted for extermination were held. As a World War II lesson plan, have students look at this timeline (with a supplemental enrichment activity available for download as a PDF). Then, distribute the accompanying resources: a section of a pamphlet issued by the Office of Civilian Defense (primary source enrichment activity) and a writing enrichment activity focusing on photographs of war damage.
***
Learn more about HMH Social Studies, which presents the rich, endlessly inventive story of our world, challenging students to dig deep into the past.
Read more blogs about teaching world history on topics including:
Download our FREE 2022–2023 calendar of activities!
Related Reading
-
How to Promote Kindness in Our Kids
Francie Alexander
Chief Research Officer, HMH -
Celebrating Famous Women in Science Who Have Impacted the World
Shaped Staff
-
Speaking (Not Public Speaking!) Activities for Middle and High School Students
Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature
CORE CURRICULUM
HMH Social Studies, 6-12
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
AP Human Geography
Personal Finance
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL
Writable
Professional Development
Providing professional development for teachers, HMH’s professional learning courses, coaching, and leadership advisory supports educators every step of the way.
Connected Teaching and Learning
Connected Teaching and Learning from HMH brings together on-demand professional development, students' assessment data, and relevant practice and instruction.
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
Research shows that a social-emotional learning curriculum can lead to improved academic performance. Explore high-quality SEL programs that get results.