World War II Independent Learning Projects
Each category is worth forty points; you must answer all five for a total of 200 points.
Due Date for all assignments: 12/14/12 Assignments may be turned in at your leisure but all must be
in by this date.
Origins of the War: You must choose one option
A. List and give a one paragraph explanation for each one the five main causes of WWII as you see
them.
B. Choose a world leader from either of the alliances who chose to go to war during WWII and write
a short three paragraph speech explaining their reasons for going to war. The speech must contain
factual information from the time that would defend their position as well as be written from their
point of view.
C. Research American Neutrality during the War. Give a brief summary what this term means and
whether or not the US was truly neutral. Conclude by stating a thesis that gives at least three
reasons for the stance that the US took and whether or not you agreed with this policy.
War Crimes? You must choose one
D. Write a defense of the US policy of Internment. This paper must be a minimum of 1 page double
spaced in length.
E. Compare and Contrast events that may be construed as war crimes committed by both the Allied
and Axis Powers. Examine things such as the Rape of Nanking, Total War, and the Holocaust.
The comparison must be a minimum of 2 pages typed, double spaced.
F. With three classmates, take the positions of a victim of the holocaust, a German Officer on trial for
war crimes, Prosecuting Attorney, and Defense Attorney at the Nuremberg Trials. You will
research your positions and then present them in a fifteen to twenty minute skit for your
classmates and they will act as the Jury.
Vocabulary- Choose one option
Vocabulary List







D-Day
Pearl Harbor
Battle of the Bulge
FDR
Battle of Stalingrad
Aircraft Carriers
Auschwitz
Hitler
Hirohito
Churchill
Patton
Eisenhower
P-51 Mustang
Mussolini
McArthur
Tokyo Firebombing
Doolittle Raid
Rommel
London Air Raids
Sherman Tank
B-17 Flying Fortress
Berlin Air Raids
The Maginot Line
Stalin
Okinawa
Manhattan Project
B-29 Super fortress
B-25 Liberator
G. Create a crossword puzzle using terms and information about WWII. You must have a minimum
of 20 clues. You may use puzzlemaker.com. Or any other online tool. You could also construct a
word search however to construct this properly in a way that will result in receiving points you
must get approval from Mr. Kirian.
H. Define and explain the importance of ten of the following vocabulary words from WWII. Each
definition should be a minimum of one five sentence paragraph in length, using your own words
but with specific information from the text as to their importance to the time and history. Credit
will be given based on the completeness of the response. Credit will not be given if the definitions
are taken directly from the text. From the following terms ten must be answered.
Home front: Choose one
A. Create a pamphlet for American Citizens which would give the basic guidelines for being a good
citizen in supporting the war effort. Make sure to cover the concepts of rationing and recycling.
B. Create a piece of propaganda to encourage support for your side in WWII, either Axis of Allie.
This could be a recruitment poster, a poster to convince people that you are right, a pamphlet to
convert your enemy and stop the fighting, etc… This propaganda can come in any form that you
may choose however it will be judged on its effectiveness. You will be asked to give both a
written explanation of your piece and the audience that you are trying to reach as well as share the
piece with the class.
Optional Assignment: Choose one of the following to answer
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
Create an 3 Overlapping classes diagram comparing Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, and
Franklin Roosevelt
Create a timeline on a poster of what you believe are the ten most important events of the WWII.
Each event must have a minimum of a one five sentence paragraph explanation as to what the
point is and its importance to the overall timeline.
Choose a person from one of the combatant nations; civilian, leader, soldier, etc... And write a
short journal of at least four one paragraph entries in length that would chronicle what the war
would have been like for them. This explanation should be as factual as possible and contain
information about the war (dangers, diet, politics, family, countries impact, etc...)
Create a working educational board game that explains an aspect of the war.
Contact and conduct an interview with a WWII Veteran (preferred) or civilian who lived during
the war. Please get their permission to video tape the session and create a movie maker/ imovie
presentation of the interview. The interview can be as long as you like but please edit the footage
for appropriateness and length to be used in the classroom. If you cannot locate a veteran, you
may conduct this project for ½ credit using an online interview. You can locate these all over the
web, if you are interested you must attach the link of the site. The last part of this assignment is to
write a short 1 page summary of the information that you obtained in your interview.
Create a documentary about an event or person during WWII using Movie Maker. This video
could contain pictures, video clips, and slides of written language (Quotes, excerpts from writings,
statistics etc...) Video must have sound and last a minimum of 3 minutes. The sound with the
video must correspond with the images and facts on the video.
Students may also suggest other topics or assignments which will then be assigned point values by
Mr. Kirian if approved.