Unit 5

WW2 Impact

Overarching Inquiry Question:

What factors caused the United States to change from an isolationist nation to one of international leadership?

Unit Overview:

In this unit, the students will be able to describe how World War II changed the United States from one of isolationism to one of international leadership. Emphasis is placed on the role of the U.S. in rebuilding Europe, the resettlement of displaced persons resulting from the Holocaust, policy of containment in stopping the spread of communism. Students will be actively engaged in hands-on learning through analysis of pictures, inquiry-based learning, real world application games, graffiti boards and writing newspaper editorials.

Unit Theme:

Change on the Global Stage

Standards & Skills

Standard 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the economic, political, and social effects of World War II, the Holocaust, and their aftermath (i.e., 1930–1950) on the United States and South Carolina.

Standard 4: Demonstrate an understanding of the conflicts, innovations, and social changes in the United States, including South Carolina, from 1950–1980

5.3.CC

5.4.CO

5.4.CX

5.4.E


Instructional Guidance:

Summarize: Structuring historical periods to group information and to establish key events as turning points and beginning/ending points.


Comparison: Generate comparisons based on common or differing characteristics or contexts. Compare: Compare and contrast the capitalist and communist ideologies.


Periodization: Study the past in blocks of time in order to understand how they are linked. Periodization: Summarize the economic, political, and social changes in the United States after World War II.


Contextualize: Place events in the proper context, allowing students to understand the historical period. Context: Contextualize the tension between the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Evidence: Identify, source, and utilize different forms of evidence, including primary and secondary sources, used in an inquiry-based study of history. Evidence: Analyze multiple perspectives on the economic, political, and social effects of World War II and its aftermath using primary and secondary sources.

Continuity and Change: Analyze the changes and continuities regarding the United States’ international leadership during the period, including the rebuilding of Europe and the resettlement of displaced persons resulting from the Holocaust.

I Can Statements:

  • I can analyze the changes and continuities regarding the United States’ international leadership during the period, including the rebuilding of Europe and the resettlement of displaced persons resulting from the Holocaust.

  • I can compare and contrast the capitalist and communist ideologies.

  • I can contextualize the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

  • I can analyze multiple perspectives on the economic, political, and social effects of the Cold War, Space Race, using primary and secondary sources.

5th Grade Unit 5

DBQ Options

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  • Berlin, Korea, Cuba: How did the US Contain Communism?

Picture Books:

  • The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss

  • What Was the Berlin Wall by Nico Medina

  • Hidden Figures by Margo Lee Shetterly

  • Year of the Jungle by Suzanne Collins

  • Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam by Walter Dean Myers

  • The Race to Space: From Sputnik to the Moon Landing and Beyond by Clive Gifford

  • Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Raven

Chapter Books:

  • The Wall by Peter Sis

  • My Freedom Trip by Frances Park and Ginger Park

  • A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen