Looking back as we move forward

Abstract

Personal journeys have been used to teach major historical events for years. People cling to these stories because they can connect a real person to the event. The same is true of children. They will retain knowledge much better if there is a personal connection made. In this five-day unit, I use my own grandfather’s WWII diary as a springboard for exploring different perspectives and roles throughout that time period. The students will discover various roles that men and women played in aiding the war effort and even come to understand that there are always at least two sides to every story.