Introduction

The year is 1955. You have been chosen by the government. Your mission is to create a newsletter for all the World War II soldiers in honor of the war being over a decade.
You are to create this newsletter through a variety of methods. Most important is to view information with a wide variety of lens. Do not automatically take the American side of any decision. You must look deeper into any decision. It is imperative for this to happen to make this a critical analysis of the information that you will be evaluating.
This mission is critical to your learning. You will prove your knowledge by making the information accurate and enjoyable to read. You may take some creative liberty but be sure to have all the information be factual. THIS IS A NECESSITY.
Good Luck

The Quest

Your Job is to create a historic newsletter. This will be done as a combination of group and individual work. During the project ask yourself, 'Was World War II a necessary occurence?'

The Process and Resources

In this Webquest you will be creating a four to eight page historic newsletter. You will be in groups of six. How you divide the work is your responsiblity. As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about World War II. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use me as a source for anything you do not understand. Remember that I am a final source however, try to get it yourself first.
You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

We have a distinct understanding of the World War II era from our in class discussion.

• World War II Information - A wide variety of Information to be used by all areas

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software. Remember that the links provided are a beginning source. You must find at least three other sources from the internet.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

Weapons expert

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions in a paper specifically related to World War II Weapons:

1. Name different weapons from World War II from the Axis and Allied sides.
2. Have an advanced understanding of how the weapons shaped the war's outcome
3. Discuss how the use of new non-trench warfare techniques increased the loss of life.
4. Explain the how the use of naval and airforce power ultimately decided the war.

• Armored Fighting Vechiles of World War II - Information on weapons
• The Atomic Bomb - Information on the Atomic Bomb
• Aircraft of World War II - A description of Axis and Allied forces planes

Historian

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Reporter:

1. How do the views of other people contradict American beliefs.
2. Describe the article read and if the source is credible.
3. Decide if you agree with the writing. (Remember to place yourself in the ideal system that the author is, do not view this from an American standpoint)

• Primary source on Poland - This is to be used to formulate a view of the occupation of Poland
• Primary Source on the Pearl Harbor Attack
• Primary Source for Hitler's treatment of his own staff
• Primary source on the attack of Berlin

Biographer

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Biographer:

1. Identify the person
2. State and describe his place in the War
3. Describe the type of country that he was involved with.
4. Decide if the actions that these men took could have been avoided and if so how.

• Hitler - Information on Hitler
• FDR - A beginning source for information on FDR
• Hirohito - Information on Hirohito
• Stalin - Information on Stalin

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of World War II. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. You will send your newsletter which contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained to vetrans of World War II. You will then ask for their opinion and personal accounts of their duty in World War II. You will send a cover letter explaining the project to the vetran. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person.

2. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

3. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: the designated contact

Conclusion

Congratulations on accepting this mission. It is critical to your real world contacts that you follow up with them. This project is an excellent way to start to see history from a personal level. It is imperative that you do not forget what men and women have done for this nation and the nations of the world.
Again congratulations on an excellent effort.