This inquiry asks students to investigate a deliberately provocative question: Is war good for women? World War II brought destruction, separation, and loss, yet it also opened forms of work, military service, public responsibility, and economic participation that had often been restricted to women before 1941. Students examine that tension rather than treating wartime change as simply progress or simply hardship. Across three supporting questions, they consider opportunities available to women, the economic consequences of wartime mobilization, and the longer-term effects of wartime changes on policy and women’s public roles.
Organizational
The Heart of Social Studies
Inquiries
Filed Under:
This inquiry asks students to investigate a deliberately provocative question: Is war good for women? World War II brought destruction, separation, and loss, yet it also opened forms of work, military service, public responsibility, and economic participation that had often been restricted to women before 1941. Students examine that tension rather than treating wartime change…
Filed Under:
This inquiry leads students through an exploration of the idea of how people react when democracy is challenged. Students will learn about the concept of martial law. Then, they will apply what they learned to the events surrounding the martial law declaration in South Korea in December 2024. Students will analyze sources capturing the reactions…
Filed Under:
Out of the Shadows seeks to guide students to an understanding of the experiences of underrepresented groups of servicemen and servicewomen. In particular, the focus is placed on underrepresented groups of Korean War Veterans, including Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and women. Listening to the voices of select veterans, students will gain new…
Filed Under:
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the Mexican Revolution. By investigating the compelling question, students examine justice; by completing this inquiry, students begin to understand that revolutions may not bring justice to all.
…
Filed Under:
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the conflict between the institution of slavery and the new nation’s founding ideals. Black voices are noticeably absent in the early United States’ narrative, but by investigating Black geniuses such as John Parker, Charlotte Dupuy and Lewis, and Harriett Hayden we can honor their resistance, perseverance and…
Filed Under:
This action-embedded inquiry leads students through an investigation of how they can make a difference in their community. By featuring an opportunity for students to think through the issues that surround them, the inquiry enables them to choose one to work on, to decide what kinds of action they could take, to assess the challenges…
Filed Under:
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of representation in the Senate. The fact that representation in the U.S. Senate ignores the size of each state’s population has both benefits and challenges. As students work through the supporting questions, formative tasks, and featured sources, they are able to explore those benefits and challenges and decide…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the concept of “courage” in general, and the actions of those who responded to the 9/11 attacks, more specifically. Those attacks, over 10 years ago, have now passed from current event to history. By focusing on a relatively recent event, students should see that history is not…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the various roles of professionals who work in the community. While the focus of this inquiry is limited primarily to first responders, teachers could expand the discussion to include other community helpers or “school helpers” such as the custodial staff, cafeteria staff, librarians, etc. By focusing on…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the construct of a “hero” and the actions of those who, starting on 9/12, were engaged in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations for the next nine months. Those attacks and the aftermath have now passed from current event to history. By focusing on a relatively recent…