Landmarks Summer Institute
The Bay Area Home Front in World War II
Lucy Conroy
August 11, 2014
Current Curriculum Unit: Medieval Europe
8th grade World History
Learning Goal: Better connect study of medieval defensive structures (castle) to defensive
structures in our own environment today. We will be using Fort Warren in the Boston Harbor
Islands.
Background: Currently, as part of an extensive unit on Medieval Europe, 8th grade students
research and create a model of a medieval building (most chose castles, but they could choose
manors or cathedrals). Students display these buildings in a “Medieval Buildings Project” Fair
where the whole school, families, and community members are invited to view their work.
Through this project, students get immersed in medieval culture and learn the natural and manmade parts of a castle in a hands-on way.
The challenge for this landmarks unit is: How can we connect our study of a medieval castle to a
fort in the environment we live in? Can we see features of a medieval castle in Fort Warren?
What broader lessons can we learn about defense by looking at these structures together?
Guiding Questions:
What does the landmark tells us about the priorities of people at a time and place? What were
the functions/purposes of these landmarks?
Medieval European Castle
Fort Warren/Boston 1860
What does this building tell us about defensive military technology at this time and place? Is
there evidence of changing technology? In what ways do you see changes in the purposes of
this landmark?
How are these landmarks SIMILAR? How are they DIFFERENT?
Investigate ways the Unites States “defends” itself today. Are there landmarks of these
defenses? How might we compare current defense with medieval castles? Local forts such as
Fort Warren?
Preview Activity
Brainstorm discussion:
What is a landmark?
What makes a place a “landmark”? Natural? Human-made?
Who decides it is a landmark?
Lesson Intro:
Power Point: Fort Warren and other are forts students may have visited in past years. Medieval
castles over time (transition from wood to stone).
Field Experience
Field Trip to Fort Warren
Reflection:
Written reflection.
What are ways the Unites States “defends” itself today. Are there landmarks of these defenses?
How might we compare current defense with medieval castles? Local forts such as Fort Warren?
Name:___________________Date:___________________Class:______________
Landmarks Notes 1
Questions:
(Questions informed by UC Berkeley History Social Science Project, “In Search of the Past in
the Present: World War II on the Home Front: Landmark Analysis Questions”)
Describe the landmark.
What are the natural characteristics of this landmark? What is its location? Its surroundings?
Why was this landmark created?
Who created it? When?
What was the significance of this historical issue at the time?
Name:_________________________Class:______________________Date:___________
Landmark Notes 2
Medieval Castle
Description
Geography: Location
Connection
to natural surroundings
Purpose/s
Materials Used
Reflection:
What similarities do you see in these two structures?
What differences?
Local Fort/Fort Warren