WWII High School Projects
World War II is one of the most important topics in world history. The consequences of the war --- the defeat of the Nazis, the end of European colonialism, the start of the Cold War --- are far too numerous to list on one page. Because of its transformative effect on world history, WWII is a great topic for a high school history project. WWII projects may focus on the politics, battles, technologies, atrocities or consequences of the war.
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Oral Projects
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The subject matter of WWII lends itself naturally to speeches, presentations and debates. In many ways, WWII was the culmination of two decades of bitter politics --- communist revolutions, the Treaty of Versailles, European imperial decline and the rise of Fascism. Because the political backdrop of WWII was so heavily ideological, the war makes an excellent case study in the debate over ideology and war. A speech on the role of Fascism in German, Italian and Japanese imperialism, or a debate on the role of ideological conflict in WWII, could make for an excellent high school project about WWII.
Visual Projects
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WWII produced some of the most gruesome and stunning images the world has ever seen. Images of holocaust victims, nuclear bombings and tank warfare have been etched into the consciousness of a generation of people around the world. Because the events of WWII were so thoroughly photographed and filmed, the war makes a good topic for a visual arts project. Such projects could include collages, paintings and slide shows.
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Multimedia Projects
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WWII was one of the first major conflicts to be brought into the homes of civilians in print and radio, and later on television. As such, the war left a legacy in many media forms. A multimedia project on WWII would depict the events of the war through a combination of print, video and audio. Such projects could include mini-documentaries, mock radio broadcasts or animations. This kind of project is ideal for illustrating the human costs of the war, as much of the stock media available on it depicts immense human suffering.
Timelines
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Timelines are popular historical teaching tools. By condensing complicated historical narratives into simple, point-by-point chains, timelines allow historians to present a very basic image of how a historical event unfolded. A timeline about WWII might plot events from the lead-up to the aftermath of the war, or the series of battles that led from the start to the end of the conflict. A timeline might be supplemented with a series of maps that illustrate territorial changes resulting from battles.
Interactive Projects
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Interactive projects bring the viewers in by allowing them to manipulate items on display. Interactive projects have components that the viewers can use and interact with. Such projects can include games, models, interactive slideshows and historical artifact displays. Objects purchased from military surplus stores and other hobbyist vendors can be ideal for interactive projects. Games and other activities should not be so recreational as to make light of the subject matter; trivia quizzes and map games are ideal.
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References
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