Topic/Title:
The European Theater

Question this lesson will answer:
What is the European Theater and what role did it have in World War II.

Purpose/Rationale/Goals of the day’s lesson:
During World War II, there were different theaters of war.  Today’s lesson is going to deal with the war operations in Europe.  Students should know about the different theaters of war.  Although fighting was occurring simultaneously in Europe and the Pacific, the methods used were completely separate.  For this reason the two theaters will be broken up and examined separately.

Objectives:
SWBAT:

• Identify the area that makes up the European theater.
• Understand how Hitler's decision to invade Russia affected the war in Europe.

Standards of Learning lesson addresses:
11.11b
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the origins and effects of World War II, with emphasis on

• The European Theater

• Enable learners to construct and use mental maps of Europe in order to better understand the European Theater of War.

• Guide learner analysis of the relationships and tensions between national sovereignty and global interests in such matters as territorial disputes.

• European Theater:  Battles fought in Europe, mainly fighting against Germany and Italy.
• Non-Aggression Pact: Signed between Hitler and Stalin vowing not to invade each other.
• Yalta Conference: The meeting involving representatives from the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, at which it was decided that defeated Germany would be divided into four occupied zones, that Eastern Europe would be guaranteed free elections, and that the Soviet Union would declare war on Japan as soon as Germany was defeated.
• Operation Torch: The North African Campaign.
• Operation Overlord: Aimed to drive Germany out of France.

Methods and Activity
Anticipatory set

• Have students take a pre-test in order to show what the test will be like and to learn the students' prior knowledge about World War II.  5-10 minutes

• Show Dr. Seuss Cartoon of Russia and Hitler.
• Use an Overhead map of Europe to illustrate what countries were involved in the European Theater.
• Hand out Class Notes
• Discuss Hitler’s decision to invade Russia.
• What other European leader invaded the Soviet Union that led to his downfall? Hint: occurred over a century before Hitler’s invasion.
• What major decision did Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill make following the attack on Pearl Harbor?
• Discuss the Allies success in the Atlantic.
• Use of radar and sonar to detect German submarines.
• Operation Torch-The North African Campaign
• Operation Overlord-Aimed to drive Germany out of France.

• Students are to write down three things that they learned during the class and turn them in at the end.

• I was observed during this lesson.  To view the observation, click HERE