Socratic Seminar and War in Europe

The 8th graders are studying World War II in Social Studies.  Last week, they read primary source documents about the treatment of different minority groups during the war. Then, during a Socratic Seminar, they asked each other provoking questions about what they had read. They discussed topics like women in the workforce, the desegregation of war industries, and the internment of Japanese Americans.  The conversation was fascinating and the students made a lot of interesting connections to current events. This week, the 8th graders have learned about specific WWII battles in Europe. On Monday, the students worked together to create post-it timelines.  Each group became an expert on the battles in one country.  Then, they shared the dates from their country with their classmates, who added them onto their existing timeline.  Later this week, students will learn about the battles in the Pacific.  

Questions for your 8th grader:

• Tell me about what you discussed during the Socratic Seminar.
• Do you think the allies had a good war strategy in Europe?