America joins World War II

The 8th graders have spent the last few weeks learning about the progression of World War II.  Last week, students worked together to create "tension timelines" that tracked Hitler's movements in Europe and then discussed how America might react to each action.  Then they learned about Pearl Harbor, the event that finally brought the United States into the war.  Later in the week, they learned about what life was like on the Home Front after the country went to war.  The students read primary sources about how women and minority groups influenced the war and discussed their roles during a Socratic Seminar.  This week, they will learn about how the entrance of the United States affected the war in Europe.

Questions for your 8th grader:

• Do you think the United States would have joined World War II if the Japanese had never bombed Pearl Harbor?

• What surprised you the most about the primary sources you discussed during your Socratic Seminar?