Why War: The Causes of Conflict offers an amazing opportunity to teach students about the causes of war, the impact of propaganda, how to critically examine primary sources, and ask large-scale critical questions.

To enhance field trips to visit Why War, we have prepared curricula that can easily be used in a U.S. History, World History, Economics, and/or Civics classroom. All the materials needed to run these lessons are linked below.

These curricula should be used to prepare a class to visit and experience Why War: The Causes of Conflict. If you would like to schedule a school group tour of Why War and the rest of our institution please contact our FHCAM Education Coordinator at education@flyingheritage.org.

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		One 50-minute class period (extend to additional class periods as needed)
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets: 

• After examining case studies about the main causes of American conflicts, students will be able to identify how different risk factors may lead to international conflict.

Downloads: 

• Wars are not random events
• Supporting Materials - Risk Factors and Descriptions

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, U.S. Government, Civics, Economics
Suggested time:		Three 50-minute class periods
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets: 

• Students will be able to engage in a research project about a person involved in an American war, and describe key events from that person's life.
• Students will be able to work cooperatively in groups of three and produce a biography that adds new insight into an individual in American history.

Downloads: 

• Biographies
• Supporting Materials - Names for Biographies

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		One 50-minute class period
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets:

• Students will identify how the imagery and words of propaganda posters were used to shape opinions during WWII.
• Students will demonstrate their understanding of vindictive peace by explaining barriers that propaganda creates for "peace without victory."

Downloads: 

• Propaganda in War

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		One 50-minute class period
Grade Levels:		8-12

Learning Targets: 

• Students will look closely at accounts of the same event and be able to determine why some are more/less reliable than others.
• Students will be able to support their claims with evidence from primary source documents.

Downloads: 

• The Shot Heard Round the World
• Supporting Materials - Rev War Shots

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		Three 50-minute class periods (this may need to be longer, depending on how in-depth students will examine this topic)
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets: 

• After examining the hypothesis that this time period is the safest time in human history, students will gather evidence to support or challenge this claim.

Downloads: 

• The Safest Time in Human History
• Supporting Materials - More Peaceful Now

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		Three 50-minute class periods (extend to additional class periods as needed)
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets: 

• After learning more about the atomic bomb and it devastation, students will be able to explain the difficult decision process when considering the use of a weapon of mass destruction (in this case, nuclear weapons).

Downloads: 

• Science of Destruction
• Supporting Materials - Consequences of the Atomic Bomb
• Supporting Materials - Two Bombs

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, U.S. Government, Civics, Economics
Suggested time:		Three 50-minute class periods One 50-minute class period to prepare for the interview One 50-minute class period to gain background information about a particular war/conflict One 50-minute class period to for the interview Homework to “write up” the interview
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets: 

• Students will learn about war from an eyewitness account by interviewing a veteran about his/her key experiences and insights.
• Students will be able to engage in the interview process, including forming open-ended questions, asking follow-up questions, engaging the interviewee, and writing up findings to add new insight into an individual in American history.

Downloads: 

• Chronicles of Courage-Interviewing veterans

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		One 50-minute class period (extend to additional class periods as needed)
Grade Levels:		11-12

Learning Targets: 

• After examining the many comments and opinions about war, students will develop their opinions about international conflict/war.

Downloads: 

• Opinions of War
• Supporting Materials - Handout of Quotations

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		Two 50-minute class periods (extend to additional class periods as needed)
Grade Levels:		7-12

Learning Targets: 

• Students will develop a deeper understanding of the cost of wars and conflicts by being confronted with and thinking about casualties (death and injuries) incurred during American wars.

Downloads: 

• Casualties from War
• Supporting Materials - Timeline Tech Advances
• Supporting Materials - Fact Sheet

 

 

Subjects:		U.S. History, World History
Suggested time:		Two 50-minute class periods
Grade Levels:		9-12

Learning Targets: 

• Students will be able to list the key purposes of each branch of the United States military.
• Students will be able to identify current events around the world, and use that knowledge to determine how to best defend American from future conflicts and wars.

Downloads: 

• Future Conflicts