World War II webquest

World War II Battle Museum

Persuasive PowerPoint Presentation

Task

A local group of World War II veterans is looking into establishing a small museum. Because of size constraints they will be limited in the number of battles that will be displayed. They have asked your group to research a battle and make a persuasive PowerPoint presentation that will give them an overview of the battle and discuss why it should be one of the battles included in the museum.

Roles (as mentioned in class I would work collaboratively, NOT in individual roles)

There are four roles. Each student take one. When you are finished with your initial roles work as a team on the remaining one(s).

The Biographer—this member of the team will examine the people involved in the battle and behind the scenes, such as the commanding officers, the politicians and the soldiers.

The Weapons Analyst—this member will research the various weapons, machinery, and technology used in the battle.

The Cartographer—this member will analyze and produce maps of the area, recreate the battle scene, and determine what effect the terrain and the weather had on the outcome of the battle.

The Statistician—this member will research and record all the data related to the battle: the number of troops involved, number of weapons (tanks, planes, ships, etc.) involved, and number of casualties.

Process

Complete the battle background sheet. Some items are specific to your role ( again, work as one) while others could be completed by anyone. When you complete yours you should aide others in your group. If you are a three-person group you will need to complete the fourth role as a team. Prepare a PowerPoint presentation that starts, ends and is persuasive throughout as it discusses the different aspects of your battle. Be careful of information overload. Your classmates can only retain so many facts. Emphasize interesting information.

Resources return to top

Information overload! The books I have from the Rockford Public Library branches and our new books obtained through grant money have every thing you need. Do not "Google" your battle. Everything you need is here. The links are here to save you time. If by chance you do find a “gem” that contains specific information needed to complete your quest on a different site please share it so it can be added to the list. Ask to view the United Streaming video clips for your battle.

Atlantic Battle of Britain Pearl Harbor Coral Sea Midway El Alamein

Guadalcanal Stalingrad D-Day Iwo Jima Okinawa

All return to top

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWbattles.htm

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WW.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/famous_battles_of_world_war_two.htm

http://users.skynet.be/advocaat.depickere/Text/links.html

http://web.mac.com/davedepickere/World_War_II,_analyzed!/Battles%21.html

http://www.worldwar-2.net/index.htm (day by day timelines)

Pacific battles

http://www.history.navy.mil/special%20highlights/WWIIpacific/WWIIPac-index.htm

http://www.combinedfleet.com/battles/

Japanese Navy

http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm

Battle of the Atlantic

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/atlantic.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_atlantic_01.shtml

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/atlantic/

http://ww2.mariner.org/atlantic/index.htm

http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsAtlanticDev.htm

http://www.usmm.org/battleatlantic.html (lots of numbers)

Battle of Britain return to top

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_of_britain_01.shtml

http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/ Look to left margin, click "Battle of Britain"

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWbritainB.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_britain.htm

Pearl Harbor return to top

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/I/USMC-I-II-2.html (See Part II, "Japan Strikes")

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/18arizona/18arizona.htm

http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm

http://www.nps.gov/archive/usar/home.htm

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/pearlharbor/

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/assets/pdfs/pearl-harbor-fact-sheet-1.pdf

Coral Sea return to top

http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/coral_sea/doc.htm

http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/coral_sea.htm

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/st/~michaelm/coral1.html

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/coralsea/coralsea.htm

http://www.combinedfleet.com/btl_cs.htm

http://www.worldwariihistory.info/Medal-of-Honor/Coral-Sea.html

Midway return to top

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/I/index.html# (see Part V)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_midway_01.shtml

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/midway/midway.htm

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/90midway/90midway.htm

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/midway.aspx

http://www.combinedfleet.com/btl_mid.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_midway.htm

http://gi.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_midwaybat.html

El Alamein return to top

http://www.topedge.com/panels/ww2/na/alamein.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_el_alamein_01.shtml

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWelalamein.htm

http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/bphprint/alamein.html

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_el_alamein.htm

http://web.mac.com/davedepickere/World_War_II,_analyzed!/Desert_War/Artikelen/1942/10/23_Battle_of_El_Alamein.html

Guadalcanal return to top

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/I/index.html# (see Part VI)

http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003117-00/sec2.htm

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/72-8/72-8.htm

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/guadlcnl/guadlcnl.htm

http://www.friesian.com/history/guadal.htm

http://www.combinedfleet.com/guadal.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_guadalcanal.htm

Stalingrad return to top

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSstalingrad.htm

http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/TRIVIABITS/Stalingrad.html

http://gi.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_6.html

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/stalingrad/default.aspx

http://www.stalingrad-info.com/

http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_stalingrad.htm

http://battle.volgadmin.ru/osn_eng.asp?np=20

http://www.2worldwar2.com/stalingrad.htm

D-Day return to top

http://www.britannica.com/dday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/dday_beachhead_01.shtml

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/

http://www.nationalww2museum.org/education/for-students/fact-sheets/d-day-brief-history.pdf

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/dday/default.aspx

Iwo Jima return to top

http://edtech.suhsd.k12.ca.us/inprogress/suh/GForand/IwoJimaQuest.htm

http://www.iwojima.com/

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/battleiwojima.htm

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/iwo_jima/iwo.html

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/LUTZ/iwo.html

http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/pactheatercamp/iwo/chronology.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_iwo_jima.htm

Okinawa

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/okinawa-battle.htm
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/okinawa/ (online book, 474 pages!)
http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-okinawa-operation-iceberg.htm
http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ht/34.1/tzeng.html
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_okinawa.htm (basics)
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/okinawa/

Evaluation return to top

Daily score during research phase. You can receive a different score than your teammates on this.

	3	2	1
Daily Work	The group functioned exceptionally well. All members listened to, shared with and supported the efforts of others. The group was always on task!	The group functioned pretty well. Most members listened to, shared with and supported the efforts of others. The group was almost always on task.	The group functioned fairly well but was dominated by one or two members due to lack of effort by certain members and or needed redirection more than once.

Battle background worksheet: 15 points each. I will “pick” one of your team’s to correct. All team members will receive the same score that worksheet receives

Presentation: 12 points each. See the rubric below. You can receive a different score than your teammates on this.


CATEGORY	3	2	1
Point of View - Purpose	Establishes a purpose at the beginning and maintains that focus throughout! Cohesive.	Establishes a purpose at the beginning, but occasionally wanders from that focus.	The purpose is somewhat clear but many aspects seem only slightly related.
Research	Group researched the subject and integrated all information into their presentation.	Group researched the subject and integrated 85% of the information into their presentation.	Group researched the subject and integrated 70% or less of the information into their presentation.
Accuracy of Facts	All supportive facts are reported accurately.	There is more than one mistake in the facts.	There is more than three mistakes in the facts.
Speaks clearly, Posture and Eye Contact, Enthusiasm	Does not read word for word. Maintains eye contact throughout. Speaks clearly and distinctly all of the time and mispronounces no more than one word. Stands up straight and looks confident and relaxed. Facial expression and body language show a strong interest and enthusiasm	Avoids reading word for word. Makes eye contact. Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time and mispronounces no more than three words. Stands up straight. Good facial expression and body language show interest and enthusiasm.	Reads slides and makes little eye contact. Hard to hear or understand and/or mispronounces more than three words. Appears too casual . Facial expression and body language show some interest and enthusiasm.

Evaluation: 10-15 points each. Includes your battle and what you learned from other presentations:

return to top