Idaho Social Studies 9-12.US2.15
The Standard
Explain the events and actions that led to World War Two, including the rise of fascism and totalitarianism, appeasement, and European and Japanese Imperialism.
Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies · World War II 1939-1945
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain how fascist rule in Germany and Italy, military rule in Japan, and the push for territory increased the risk of war. They connect Japan's invasions in Asia and Germany's expansion in Europe to other countries' responses.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can place Japan's takeover of Manchuria, the Munich Agreement, and Germany's invasion of Poland in order. They can explain why fighting in Asia began before war broke out across Europe.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think appeasement meant Britain and France supported Hitler, rather than trying to avoid war. Some think Japan's fighting began at Pearl Harbor or that Germany's invasion of Poland was the first act of aggression.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Put Japan's takeover of Manchuria, the Munich Agreement, and Germany's invasion of Poland in order. In three sentences, explain how expansion in Asia and appeasement in Europe helped lead to war.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups dated cards for Manchuria, China, Munich, and Poland; have them build a timeline and draw arrows showing causes and responses.
Ask students to write: Why did Britain and France agree to the Munich Agreement, and what did Germany do afterward?
Play a card match game linking Nazi rearmament, the Munich Agreement, Japan's invasion of China, and responses from other countries.
Show a 1938 Munich newspaper headline and a 1939 Poland headline; ask students to test the earlier promise of peace against what happened.
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