Students are introduced to Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. They learn about the causes and significant features of World War I. Then they explore and explain how and why Hitler was able to rise to power in the years after World War I. Next, they learn about key events in World War II. Finally, they learn about the Holocaust and write a personal diary response.
Students read an overview of Europe in the first half of the twentieth century and the focus of the lesson on World War I, the rise of Hitler, World War II, and the Holocaust. They then complete a two-column table by writing what they already know about World War I and World War II.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the experience as an overview of the two World Wars, highlighting the connection between geography and conflict and suggesting that it may span two class sessions. Share the objective with students, then review and discuss their prior-knowledge table responses, correcting misconceptions and asking if they know where the wars began and which countries were involved. Explain that they will deepen their understanding of both wars throughout the lesson.
Students watch World War I Causes and World War I to gain an overview of the causes, major features, and outcomes of World War I. As they watch, they complete a three-part graphic organizer, taking notes on the causes of the war, new forms of weaponry, and the outcomes and results.
Teacher MovesPrompt students to use the organizer to capture key ideas from the videos. Afterward, discuss their notes, emphasizing how widely the war affected Europe and the world and how the outcome of World War I, including the Treaty of Versailles, destabilized Europe and set the stage for World War II.
Students watch How Did Hitler Rise to Power? to understand how the end of World War I and its consequences helped Hitler and the Nazi Party gain support in Germany. They then post to a class wall explaining how the result of World War I was used by Hitler and the Nazis to seize power, and they read and respond to at least two classmates’ posts with questions or positive comments. Next, students explore World War Two: History’s Most Savage and Devastating War to view a timeline of key World War II events, then create their own timeline of ten important events using a drawing canvas or by uploading a photo of a hand-drawn timeline.
Teacher MovesNote that much of the content is adapted from the TED-Ed lesson on Hitler’s rise and use it as a reference if desired. Facilitate a discussion connecting the end of World War I to the rise of Hitler, highlighting exemplary student responses from the wall. Guide students as they examine the World War II timeline, then review their created timelines, prompting them to explain why each chosen event is significant and how the events connect across the war.
Students watch The Holocaust and Anne Frank: Hiding and Arrest to learn both an overview of the Holocaust and a personal story from Anne Frank’s life. They then read a well-known passage from Anne Frank’s diary expressing her beliefs and hopes during the Holocaust. Finally, they write their own diary-style entry on a class wall, reflecting on a time they witnessed someone being treated poorly because of identity or circumstances, connecting that experience to what happened to Anne Frank and her family and comparing their own response to Anne’s.
Teacher MovesPrepare students for the emotional weight of the Holocaust content, acknowledging that some images and stories may be disturbing and encouraging questions and discussion. Support students as they interpret Anne Frank’s diary passage, prompting them to consider her optimism and perspective. When reviewing diary entries, be sensitive to personal and potentially painful experiences; with student permission, share and discuss selected entries with the class. Encourage interested students to read more from Anne Frank’s diary using the full-text resource in the student pack.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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