Jessica Cappadona

Marine Academy of Science & Technology

Sandy Hook, NJ

Movement, Mobilization, & Militarization: The Bay Area Hone Front in WWII

NEH Lesson Plan

Experiences of World War II Through Oral Histories

This lesson/project is designed for an 11th grade U.S. History II course & will be introduced as the culminating activity of the WWII unit. The purpose of this activity is to provide a deeper understanding of the impact of World War II by examining personal experiences via oral history. Students will read & discuss an oral history transcript to further their understanding of the WWII era. This class activity will also serve as the foundation for a project in which students will conduct their own oral history research.

Objectives:

SWBAT understand the value & use of oral histories regarding the World War II era.

Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.9

Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.6
Evaluate authors' differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors' claims, reasoning, and evidence.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.3
Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain.

Essential Questions:

·  How did World War II impact the daily lives of Americans?

·  How does Oral History help us to better understand the past?

·  Why is how we remember events of the past important?

Procedure:

-Do Now: What events in your life do you remember most vividly?

·  Class discussion of responses

·  Guide conversation to how we remember certain events

-As a class we will access the Oral History of Stella Faria via the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library Oral History Center website http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library/oral-history-center

-As a class we will read and discuss the transcript

·  Students will complete accompanying note sheet

·  Points of interest in Stella’s Oral history – Transitioning to War, Japanese-American Internment, Working in the Shipyards, the Draft/Enlistment, Racial Climate, Port Chicago, Home Front War Effort

·  Use the Oral History Discussion Questions to help guide the analysis of the transcript

·  Have students note which topics she remembers more vividly than others – Why do you think these events stand out more? What does that reveal about the era?

-Introduction & explanation of Experiences of WWII Oral History Project

-Overview of Oral History Tool Kit

Assessment:

·  Formative – participation in class discussion, completion of note sheet

·  Summative – completion of project

Stella Faria Oral History Discussion Questions:

1. What does Faria’s need for a special work permit reveal about the labor force at the time?

2.How does she describer her community/high school at the onset of the war?

3. Why do you think there was a “sense of edginess” among the immigrant population of Richmond?

4. How did Faria react to the re-location of her friend?

5. What does Faria’s account of the notice of re-location reveal about the process?

6. What impact did Japanese-American Internment have on her community?

7. Why do you think she feels sorry for the shipyard workers?

8. What distinctions are made between officer workers & shipyard workers?

9. How does she describe the work completed in the shipyards? What impact did this have on the war effort?

10. How did the Richmond population growth impact area entertainment?

11. How did the draft personally affect Faria’s family?

12. What was the communication like from home to loved ones overseas?

13. Why did she not save the letters? Do you think she regrets it?

14. How does she describe growing up in the Depression Era?

15. What reasons does she give for not accepting the job in Washington D.C.?

16. What differences are noted between the racial climates of the 1940s vs. the 1950s?

17. How did the population growth affect the community in the in the immediate post World War II era?

18. How does Faria describe the home front war efforts her & her family participated in?

20. What does Faria say her community should be remembered for? Why?

21. How does she describe the Port Chicago incident? Why do you think she has such a vivid recollection of this particular event?

22. Overall, how did World War II impact Faria & her community?

23. What are the unique benefits of using Oral History? What are some of the potential drawbacks?

24. How does this Oral History help you to better understand certain aspects of the war?

Name: ______Period: ______

U.S. History II

World War II Oral History Note Sheet

Directions: As we read the oral history of Stella Faria complete the table below with relevant information from our class discussion & reading.

Topic / Notes
Transition to War
Japanese-American Internment
Working for the Shipyards
Enlistment/The Draft
Topic / Notes
New Opportunities
Racial Climate
Richmond as a Historical Place
Port Chicago
Home Front War Efforts

U.S. History II

Experiences of WWII Oral History Project

As we conclude our studies of WWII you will be responsible for creating a power point presentation detailing the personal experiences of two individuals from the WWII era. Your project will have two oral history components – one you will research and one you will conduct yourself. You will present your findings to the class.

Component 1 – Oral History Research

·  Use the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library Oral History Center website to research and read about personal experiences during the World War II Era. http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library/oral-history-center

·  Good topics to search for include: Rosie the Riveter, Bracero Program, Japanese American Internment, & Port Chicago.

·  Read through several oral history transcripts before selecting one to focus on.

·  Research Questions & ideas to explore:

-What is their story? (brief biographical background)

-Why is their perspective important?

-How did World War II impact the life of this person?

-How does information obtained from this interview reflect greater historical trends of the era?

-What information did you find the most interesting & why?

-Does this individual’s experience contribute to or counter the notion of World War II as “the good war”?

Component 2 – Conducting Your Own Oral History

·  You will conduct an oral history interview with an individual involved in or alive during the WWII era.

·  Try to pick an area to focus on during your interview appropriate to whom you are interviewing (example: if you interview a veteran focus on military related questions, if you interview someone not involved directly in the war focus on home front questions)

·  Use the Oral History Tool Kit as a guide for crafting questions & conducting the interview.

·  You will provide a synopsis of your interview in your presentation.

Grading:

·  Your project/presentation grade will count towards the major assessments portion of your average.

·  You will submit your interview questions ahead of time and it will count towards the minor assessments portion of your average.

Due Date: ______