World War II created a generation of heroes on the warfront as a generation of military families made countless sacrifices so the Allies could defeat the fascist Axis powers. Meanwhile, civilians on the home front also demonstrated what it meant to serve their country. This inquiry asks students to think about the concept of patriotism as they explore different ways Americans supported the war effort and the underlying values the United States was fighting for.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
How do we define patriotism during wartime?
Standards
D2.Civ.8.9-12. Evaluate social and political systems in different contexts, times, and places, that promote civic virtues and enact democratic principles.
Instructional Snapshot
Class begins by examining a source set that includes a variety of wartime realities on the home front (production, employment, advertisements, war bonds, etc.). Students write a new caption for each source that describes the civic action taken and how it relates to the war or the American ideals being defended abroad.
Students then reach a preliminary consensus on the characteristics of “patriotism” during war and give each source a score on the provided organizer.
Next, students may revise their criteria as they create a dictionary entry that captures the complexities of wartime patriotism by including multiple definitions influenced by their sourcework. For example, they may describe patriotism via sacrifice, collaborative efforts, or even dissent in service of the ideals the nation claimed to be fighting for.
Formative Tasks
COLLABORATE: Write a caption that describes civic action taken by Americans in each source.
DELIBERATE: Score the civic actions taken based on group-created criteria for “patriotism.”
PRODUCE: Create a dictionary entry for “patriotism.”
Sources
Source Set: WWII on the Home Front
Summative Performance Task
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Taking Informed Action
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