Teacher notes
Learning intentions
This resource requires students to apply research skills when investigating a topic of interest from the Second World War.
By the end of the lesson, students will:
- identify and use keywords to search for and find information online about their chosen topic
- apply the information they find when answering the questions on the worksheet
- describe details about their chosen topic.
Lesson resources
- Questions about the Second World War worksheet.
Teaching ideas
This lesson, Researching the Second World War, can be used for learning in many ways in class, at home or as a relief-teacher lesson.
Whole-class guided lesson
Guide students in the research process and the steps to find sources to answer the questions. Answer the questions together as a class.
Independent activity
Ask students to research a selected topic on the Second World War using their research to answer the questions on the worksheet.
Group activity – expert jigsaw
Organise students into groups. Allocate each group a different topic on the Second World War. Researching answers to the questions on the worksheet, the group becomes an expert on that topic. The group could create a brief slide or presentation of images that demonstrate the information about their topic. Groups present their learning to the class or combine different experts into new groups to share learning.
Australian Curriculum
Knowledge and understanding
- Students learn about the causes, outbreak and course of the Second World War and the significance of Australian involvement (AC9HH10K01).
- Students learn about the places where Australians fought, and their perspectives and experiences during the Second World War, such as the fall of Singapore, prisoners of war (POWs), the Battle of Britain and Kokoda (AC9HH10K02).
Skills
- Locate, identify and compare primary and secondary sources to use in historical inquiry (AC9HH9S02).
- Compare perspectives in sources and explain how these are influenced by significant events, ideas, locations, beliefs and values (AC9HH9S06).
- Analyse different and contested historical interpretations (AC9HH9S07).
- Create descriptions, explanations and historical arguments, using historical knowledge, concepts and terms that incorporate and acknowledge evidence from sources (AC9HH9S08).
Teaching sensitivities
Teachers are advised to be sensitive to students' perspectives and emotions while using this resource. When working through the activities, teachers will need to consider their students' religious and cultural beliefs, any experiences of war or conflict, or parents serving in the defence forces. It is the responsibility of teachers to consider whether it is appropriate to use this resource with their students.
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.