PEARL HARBOR LESSON PLAN

Class/Subject: 8th Grade Social Studies

Date: 3/27/2012

Student Objectives/Student Outcomes: Students will be able to synthesize multiple historical sources to critically analyze

the attack on Pearl Harbor. Students will evaluate foreign policy choices facing President Roosevelt and the

United States in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Content Standard: Illinois State Goal 16.A.3b Make inferences about historical events and eras using historical maps and other historical sources.

Materials/Resources/Technology: DVD/ Projector Audio speakers Copies of group writing response prompts (6 per class) Text Copies of FDR speech (1 per student) and access to online audio of speech,

both from http://www.america9nrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm 3/26 edition of Daily Illini Newspaper

Teacher’s Goals: To present the events and circumstances of the Attack on Pearl Harbor in order

to promote critical analysis. To use primary sources in order to familiarize students with content.

Time 0-10 Start of Class: Go over today’s goals and discuss current events, including the

Leadership change at U of I by using the Daily Illini, and the input of students.

10-15 Introduction of Lesson: Free flowing discussion on what students’ know Involving the attack on Pearl Harbor.

15-39 Lesson Instruction: Teacher will show 6 minute (2:48 – 8:40) video clip of the History Channel’s “America the Story of Us” DVD

Then students will be asked to write responses the questions: Why didJapan carry out the attack? and Why was the US Navy so unprepared? (5Mins)

5 minute discussion will follow about their answers to the last twoquestions

Teacher will read prompt for activity following FDR speech, and Students will be given handouts of the text of FDR’s speech to Congress in order to follow along with as the audio clip is played (8 mins).

39-54 Assessments/Checks for Understanding: Students will then be divided into groups of 4 or 5 to answer written prompt regarding the Declarationof War. (Prompt Attached)

55 Closure/Wrap-Up/Review: Responses will be collected and teacher will askfor general thoughts about the Declaration of War.

Self-Assessment: Written responses will be read to determine the quality of The lesson and the students’ comprehension.

FDR Speech Activity

You are all prominent members of Congress in 1941. You are close allies with President Roosevelt, and

like him, you consider yourselves to be isolationists. That being said, you must decide whether to vote in

favor of his Declaration of War on Japan considering the following:

Your isolationist views

Your knowledge of the ongoing wars in the Pacific and in Europe

The near certainty that war with Japan will lead to war with the Nazis.

As a group you will all want to vote together. Amongst your group, make a “Yes” or “No” decision to

President Roosevelt’s request for a Congressional Declaration of War and write a one paragraph response

in defense of your group’s decision.