World War II History (Teaching with Historic Places)

Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) uses historic places in National Parks and in the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places to enliven history, social studies, geography, civics, and other subjects. TwHP has created a variety of products and activities that help teachers bring historic places into the classroom.

Lessons related to other military and war time history can be found at Military & Wartime History.

Here you’ll find place-based educational resources relating to the military and homefront history of World War II. Discover more resources at the Teaching with Historic Places homepage.

Explore lessons on African Americans and Women in World War II:

Teach WWII by place with:

World War II Heritage City Lessons Click and learn more

Featured Lesson Plans

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  Fort Ontario, NY and Jewish Refugees

  In 1944, 982 Jewish refugees arrived from parts of Southern and Eastern Europe to Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY.

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  Lesson Plan

  The Tuskegee Airmen

  In 1941 in Tuskegee, Alabama, the U.S. Army Air Corp began a program to train African American servicemembers as Air Corps cadets.

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  The ‘Code Girls’ of Arlington Hall

  Lesson plan about the ‘Code Girls’ of Arlington Hall Station: Women Cryptologists of the Second World War

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  Lesson Plan

  The Detroit Race Riot of 1943

  This lesson discusses the devastating racial unrest that gripped Detroit in June 1943. It can be taught as part of a unit on World War II.

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  WWII Conscientious Objectors at Patapsco

  During World War II, thousands of pacifists objected to military service because of their religious and moral beliefs.

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  The Dowling Victory Garden

  This lesson introduces students to the history of the Dowling Victory Garden, the last remaining World War II victory garden in Minneapolis.

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  Hour History Lesson

  Women's Sexual Health & Safety in WWII

  This lesson guides students through the important history of women's sexual health and safety on the American WWII home front.

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  Navy Women of Floyd Bennet Field

  Explore the experiences of three women who served in the United States Naval Reserve, better known as the WAVES

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  Battle of Midway: Turning the Tide

  This lesson is based on the National Historic Landmark, "World War II Facilities at Midway" (with photographs), & historic accounts.