Alabama Social Studies SS24.5.9b
The Standard
- SS24.5.9
- Describe the reasons for the United States’ entry into World War II and identify its contributions toward the defeat of the Axis powers.
Explain the military contributions of Americans during World War II, including the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen and Alabama Medal of Honor recipients.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain how Americans served in different military roles during World War II. They describe how the Tuskegee Airmen protected bombers and how Alabama service members Henry E. Erwin and Jake W. Lindsey acted during combat.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain that Tuskegee fighter pilots escorted bombers while serving in a segregated military. They can describe how Erwin saved his plane's crew from a burning flare and how Lindsey fought off an attack in Germany.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think all Tuskegee Airmen were pilots, though ground crews also supported their missions. They may think a Medal of Honor was given for serving, rather than for a specific action.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Explain how a Tuskegee fighter pilot helped a bomber crew. Then describe one action by Erwin or Lindsey and say whom it helped.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs paper fighter and bomber cutouts and a Europe map; have them model an escort mission and explain the fighter's job.
After reading short accounts of Erwin and Lindsey, ask: How did each protect others, and how did their jobs differ?
Hand out name and action cards; partners match the Tuskegee Airmen, Erwin, and Lindsey to their wartime actions.
Project the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site webpage; students find one Alabama training detail and mark it on a class map.
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Related Standards
- SS24.AS.12
Explain the role of Alabamians in helping achieve victory in the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II.
- SS24.US2.8a
Describe Alabama's participation in World War II, including the role of the Tuskegee Airmen, housing prisoner of war (POW) camps, growth of the Port of Mobile, ...
- SS24.5.10
Describe how Alabamians contributed to the war effort during World War II.
- SS24.5.10a
Explain Alabama’s contributions to military production during World War II.
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