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World War II Lessons for Middle and High School
As a teacher, you are responsible for more than teaching history. You are responsible for helping students actualize their full potential, in and out of the classroom. World War II shaped our world, and its lessons remain as relevant as ever. However, engaging your students can feel like an uphill battle when combating budget and time constraints. It’s easy to feel lost in the fog of war in your pursuit of providing a quality education. Luckily, reinforcements are here with PATH TO HONOR! PATH TO HONOR is a FREE, self-guided, and interactive collection of video lessons. Each lesson revolves around one of the six values that define the Medal of Honor and have been crucial in building our country.
Through first-hand accounts from our nation’s real-life heroes, Medal of Honor Recipients, students will be inspired to lead lives of character. This platform consists of 18 ready-made lessons designed by teachers! Here is why students need to learn about World War II and what makes PATH TO HONOR an invaluable resource.
What Lessons Can Middle and High School Students Learn About World War II?
World War II was the most impactful war of the 20th century, and students can still learn valuable lessons from it today. More than a war, it was one of the few times good and evil were so clearly delineated, making it an invaluable topic for middle and high school students!
Students can learn lessons from this conflict that will stay with them their whole lives, especially when they look at how soldiers reacted when their spirit was put to the test. World War II is a great topic because it empowers students and inspires them to:
- Value cooperation and teamwork.
- Understand the impact and cost of war.
- Consider the importance of connecting with the past and avoiding past mistakes.
- Gain a grasp of the context that has defined our world and nation.
- Develop critical thinking skills.
- Foster empathy and understanding.
- Operate with a strong moral compass and sense of justice.
World War II was more than victories on the battlefield. It was a moral dilemma filled with dramatic narratives. Countless young men and women risked everything for a greater mission.
Just as importantly, the selflessness, sacrifice, and courage in the face of unimaginable conditions strike a chord with students. Many students report that it is often considered a favorite topic, meaning they will be primed to engage and embrace the ideals of these lessons.
Further, by learning about the atrocities and war crimes committed throughout the war, students will also foster a stronger sense of empathy, tolerance, and justice as they learn the importance of human rights and the dangers of prejudice and discrimination.
If you are looking for resources that will captivate students and turn them into engaged citizens, PATH TO HONOR is a FREE, innovative, and interactive resource that’s easy to use and access. Let’s explore how these lessons will turn your platoon of students into community generals.
Related Article: Why is History Important for Students? The Foundation for Future Leaders
PATH TO HONOR’s FREE, Interactive World War II Video Lessons: A Portal to the Past
PATH TO HONOR can teach students about World War II and equip students with the skills, knowledge, empathy, and integrity they need to be the leaders their communities and our nation deserve. Here is how this platform’s immersive storytelling and exercises can help.
Related Article: FREE Online History Lessons for High School | 18 Ready-Made History Modules
Lessons of Bravery from John Basilone
In this lesson, students will be transported back to the heart of World War II, where courage and sacrifice were tested to the extreme! This module explores the story of Gunner Sergeant John Basilone, who became a legend because of his uncompromising bravery.
Your students will be placed in the middle of a war-ravaged battlefield with enemy fire raining down from all sides. Students will be gripped by a real-life story of a unit on the brink of collapse and Basilone’s refusal to give up.
Basilone intrepidly dived headfirst into danger, repairing broken guns, carrying ammunition, and manning a gun. Despite having the opportunity to return home to a hero’s welcome and retire, Basilone even chose to rejoin his fellow Marines in the Pacific.
Still, this is more than just a tale of bravery. This video lesson is a testament to the human spirit, the power of courage, and the unwavering commitment to a cause greater than oneself. This gripping story will spark self-exploration, create riveting classroom discussions, and teach:
- The importance of courage and sacrifice.
- What it means to be a hero and leader.
- The human cost of war.
- The power of leadership.
- The importance of service.
Related Article: Lessons of Courage for Middle and High School
Lessons of Sacrifice from Henry Eugene Erwin
This video lesson will teleport your students back to World War II aboard a B-29 bomber soaring above Japan in a dangerous gambit against enemy forces. Staff Sergeant Henry Eugene Erwin, a radio operator, performed the vital role of guiding other planes into formation.
The chaos of war presented a cruel twist. As Erwin dropped a white phosphorus smoke bomb to signal the other planes, it bounced back inside, exploding in Erwin’s face. Blinded and engulfed in flames, Erwin faced a legacy-defining choice.
As the plane spiraled towards the ocean, Erwin knew the bomb posed a threat to everyone. Ignoring the excruciating pain of his third-degree burns, he grabbed the 1,300-degree bomb with his bare hands, crawled to the cockpit, and hurled the burning bomb out the window.
Erwin saved his crewmates, and this gripping narrative from Erwin himself is more than just a history lesson; it’s a way to inspire your students to follow in Erwin’s footsteps and:
- Reflect on the importance of sacrifice, courage, and heroism.
- Consider the difficult choices Erwin faced and those they face in their lives.
- Understand the importance of service within their communities.
- Embrace the power of leadership and teamwork.
Related Article: FREE Lessons About the Importance of Sacrifice | Middle & High School
Lessons of Patriotism from George Sakato
Students will venture back in time to discover the story of Private George Sakato, who faced unimaginable discrimination during World War II when Executive Order 9066 forced Japanese Americans to move into relocation centers.
Despite this blow, Sakato never abandoned his love for and loyalty to his country. Sakato enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining a unit of second-generation Japanese American soldiers who refused to let their spirit be broken.
Together, they fought bravely through the battlefields of Europe and liberated over 200 prisoners of war. Sakato’s story is one in which the full power of the human spirit shines through. This story will inspire students to:
- Reflect on prejudice and discrimination.
- Become more empathetic and accepting of different people’s backgrounds.
- Operate with a sound moral compass to be just leaders.
- Create an unbreakable bond with their country and community.
- Embrace the power of loyalty, no matter the conditions.
- Find inspiration in adversity and use it to overcome it.
Lessons of Integrity from Edward Carter
In the segregated era of World War II, African American soldiers rarely had the opportunity to fight on the front lines. Despite discriminatory policies that kept him from serving, Staff Sergeant Edward Allen Carter had a deep-seated desire to serve his country.
When the Battle of the Bulge took a heavy toll on the Allied forces, he had his chance as the military turned to its African American soldiers. But one evening, during a dangerous mission across a German field, Carter and his unit came under heavy fire!
Many were injured, including Carter, but Carter refused to retreat. Carter charged toward the enemy, fueled by a selfless desire to protect his comrades. Carter single-handedly engaged eight soldiers in a fierce battle. He managed to kill six, capture two, and save his fellow soldiers.
Carter’s story is one of perseverance and an unwavering commitment to freedom. By sharing his experience, you’re not just teaching history. You’re inspiring students to:
- Reflect on a difficult part of history so that they can avoid making those same mistakes.
- Ruminate prejudice and perseverance.
- Consider what it means to sacrifice.
- Foster a sense of loyalty and commitment, no matter the conditions.
- Gain an appreciation for the power of perseverance.
- Turn into just and fearless leaders.
Related Article: FREE Lessons About Integrity to Develop Character in Middle & High School Students
Lessons of Commitment from Ernest Evans
Drop your students in the heart of World War II, where a fierce battle raged in the Leyte Gulf. Outnumbered and outgunned on the high seas, Navy Commander Ernest Evans and his crew faced an impossible task: they had to protect their fleet from a formidable Japanese force.
Evans knew his small ships were no match for the powerful enemy, but he remained committed to the mission at hand. With quick thinking and unwavering courage, Evans devised a daring plan. He first created a smokescreen to disguise his fleet, buying some time.
Still, he knew that would not be enough. In a moment of legendary valor, Evans sacrificed everything to see his mission through, turning his ship directly to the Japanese fleet. He decided to use himself as a decoy! He drew their fire away, fought relentlessly, and charged repeatedly.
Commander Evans would go on to lose his life, but his story will inspire your students to realize their full potential and to:
- Reflect on leadership and strategy.
- Embrace the power of sacrifice and teamwork.
- Understand the importance of committing to a cause greater than themselves.
- Instill the importance of leadership and decision-making to find inspiration in adversity.
Want to Teach Your Students to Become Leaders in Their Communities? Register for FREE World War II Lessons Today
Are you looking for World War II resources that will help your students in and out of the classroom? PATH TO HONOR is the FREE, self-guided, and interactive solution for you.
Made for teachers by teachers, these video lessons revolve around our nation’s true heroes, Medal of Honor Recipients, and the core values they embody that our nation was built on. Through first-hand accounts, self-exploration, and thought-provoking prompts, students will be inspired to lead lives of character as they apply these values to their lives. By providing these lessons, you are helping them realize their full potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.
Register for PATH TO HONOR today to use these transformative, ready-made lessons.