Activity: Pearl Harbor: A Defining Moment in U.S. History

1 Activity: Pearl Harbor: A Defining Moment in HistoryGuiding question: What makes Pearl Harbor a Defining Moment in American History ?DEVELOPED BY KATIE HOERNERG rade Level(s): 6-8, 9-12 Subject(s): Social StudiesCemetery Connection: Honolulu Memorial, located within the National Cemetery of the PacificFallen Hero Connection: Seaman Second Class Bruce D. BradleyActivity: Pearl Harbor: A Defining Moment in History American Battle Monuments Commission | National Cemetery Administration | National History Day | Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New MediaOverviewUsing a History lab format, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to help them answer the guiding ques-tion.

2 Students will be broken into groups and each group given a different document to explore. Groups will analyze the effect of the attack on Pearl Harbor and then produce an original political cartoon to illustrate their answer to the guiding ContextPearl Harbor woke the United States out of its slumber of neutrality. The attack on American soil jarred the collective psyche and forever changed the way the nation approached international affairs and perceived enemies. The results of the attack were felt immediately with the declaration of war, but also crept into the American homefront and beyond.

3 By investigating the impact of Pearl Harbor on the American identity, students can better understand the United States role on the world stage in the post-World War II the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to Evaluate the importance of Pearl Harbor on America s entry into World War II; and Analyze the impact of the attack on the American identity and the American role in the Connections Connections to Common Core Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media ( , visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

4 Students understand the significance of 9/11 and have lived with the aftermath, but Pearl Harbor belongs to a past generation. This activity is designed to help students understand how and why Pearl Harbor is a Defining Moment in our nation s History . By examining the attack on Pearl Harbor through the sinking of the USS Arizona, students will gain an understanding of the personal effect the event had on the United States." Katie HoernerHoerner teaches at Belleville East High School in Belleville, American Battle Monuments Commission | National Cemetery Administration | National History Day | Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New MediaActivity: Pearl Harbor.

5 A Defining Moment in History Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among to C3 Analyze the relationship between historical sources and the secondary inter-pretations made from Analyze multiple and complex causes and effects of events in the Integrate evidence from multiple relevant historical sources and interpreta-tions into a reasoned argument about the Used indicates an ABMC sourcePrimary Sources After the Day of Infamy CollectionAmerican Folklife Center, Library of Order 9066, February 19, 1942 National Archives and Records AdministrationFranklin D.

6 Roosevelt, Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War with Japan, December 8, 1941 National Archives and Records #Photograph, Captured Japanese photograph taken during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Archives and Records Administration (520600) , Japanese near trains during Relocation, c. 1942 National Archives and Records Administration (195538)Photograph, USS ARIZONA burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 National Archives and Records Administration (520601) American Battle Monuments Commission | National Cemetery Administration | National History Day | Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New MediaActivity: Pearl Harbor.

7 A Defining Moment in History 3 Photograph, USS SHAW exploding during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 National Archives and Records Administration (520590) , Bruce James Bradley, Uncle Bruce Courtesy of Bruce James BradleyPoster, David Stone Martin, Above and Beyond the Call of DutyNational Archives and Records Administration (NWDNS-208-PMP-68) , Amos Sewell, Miles of Hell to Tokyo!, 1945 National Archives and Records Administration (208-PMP-45) Statement of Ensign George B. Lennig, December 20, 1941 National Archives and Records Administration (Record Group 38, Box 814)Secondary Sources A Date Which Will Live in Infamy: Remembering Pearl Harbor American Battle Monuments #.

8 WMHHU28rLctBruce Dean Bradley Fallen Hero Profile American Battle Monuments CommissionHow Pearl Harbor and 9/11 Changed the United States Forever [5:25]CBS Document Analysis Worksheet Pearl Harbor political Cartoon Assignment and Rubric Computer with internet capability to access YouTube video, projector and American Battle Monuments Commission | National Cemetery Administration | National History Day | Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New MediaActivity: Pearl Harbor: A Defining Moment in History 4 Lesson Preparation divide students into groups of three to four students per group.

9 Make one copy of the Pearl Harbor Source Packet for each group of three to four students. Make one copy of the Pearl Harbor political Cartoon Assignment and Rubric for each student. Make six copies of the Document Analysis Worksheet for each group. Cue How Pearl Harbor and 9/11 Changed the Forever video clip for use at the end of the One: Background Knowledge (10 minutes) Ask students what they know about 9/11. Share out with whole class. Ask students what they know about Pearl Harbor. Share out with whole class. Ask students why they think 9/11 is such an important event in History , then discuss why Pearl Harbor is as important.

10 Students will likely know more about the immediate effects of 9/11, so this discussion can guide them to realizing they need more data to understand the true importance of Pearl Two: Pearl Harbor Source Analysis (30 minutes) divide students into teams of three to four students each. Distribute one Pearl Harbor Source Packet and six copies of the Document Analysis Worksheet to each group. Ask the student groups to divide the documents, review, and analyze each document together. Ask students to complete a Document Analysis Worksheet for each group of sources.