Rumors of War

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Social Studies

Designed by Cher Wheeler

Introduction | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits

Introduction

Since the United States began as an independent nation, it has been involved in numerous wars.  Each of these wars have had a profound affect on U.S. citizens and the citizens of other countries. 

You will research one of these wars to learn about the events that led to US involvement, the people whose lives were affected by it, and the eventual outcome of the war.  As you research, contemplate the cost of the war, both in lives and dollars, and form your own opinion concerning the justification of United States involvement. 

You will work with a team or partner and use your research to contribute to class timeline, creating a poster detailing your specific part of United States history.  

Process

Part I: Research

Work with a partner or team to research one of the specified wars.  Your research must contain at least one (1) written source and one (1) electronic source.

• Impressions of America
• History Central, Revolutionary War
• Timeline for the period of the Revolution
• PBS- Liberty! The American Revolution

Suggested Reading:

• Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Russell Freedman, ISBN #0-439-31421-6
• Victories or Death! Stories of the American Revolution by Doreen Rappaport and Joan Verniero, ISBN# 0-439-74205-6
• Valley Forge by Richard Ammon, ISBN#0-439-83013-3
• Let it Begin Here! Lexington & Concord, First Battles of the American Revolution by Dennis Brindell Fradin, ISBN#0-439-83967-X
• George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer, ISBN #0-439-80205-9
• Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars by Donald Sommerville, ISBN #0-8172-5446-3

• History Central, War of 1812
• World Almanac for Kids, War of 1812
• Re-Living History, The War of 1812
• American History Timeline, War of 1812
• Key Events & Causes, War of 1812

Suggested Reading:

• The War of 1812 by Rebecca Stefoff, ISBN# 0761410600
• 1812: The War Nobody Won by Albert Marrin, ISBN#  0689310757
• The War of 1812: Second Fight for Independence by Alden R. Carter, ISBN# 0531156591

• History Central, Mexican-American War
• World Almanac for Kids, Mexican War
• A Concise History of the US-Mexican War
• PBS- The US-Mexican War
• US History- Mexican-American War

Suggested Reading:

• The Mexican War (We the People) by Marc Tyler Nobleman, ISBN# 075650841X
• The Mexican War, 1846-1848 (Let Freedom Ring: the New Nation) by Susan E. Haberle ISBN# 0736815589

• History Central, The Civil War
• World Almanac for Kids, Civil War
• The Civil War
• Time Line of the Civil War, 1861
• What Caused the American Civil War?

Suggested Reading:

• The Boys' War : Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War by Jim Murphy, ISBN# 0395664128
• The American Civil War by Paul Brewer, ISBN# 0-8172-5448-X
• If You Lived At The Time Of The Civil War by Kay Moore, ISBN# 0590454226

• History Central, Spanish-American War
• World Almanac for Kids, Spanish-American War
• Spanish American War Chronology
• PBS, The Spanish-American War Timeline
• Wikipedia, The Spanish-American War

Suggested Reading:

• The Spanish-American War (Cornerstones of Freedom)by Mary Collins, ISBN# 0516263374
• Battles of the Spanish-American War (Americans at War) by Diane Smolinski ISBN# 1403401705
• Spanish-American War (America at War) by Michael Golay, ISBN# 0816049351

• America at War
• History Central, World War I
• World Almanac for Kids, World War I
• PBS, World War I Timeline

Suggested Reading:

• World War I (America at War) by Peter I. Bosco, ISBN# 0816049408
• World War I (DK Eyewitness Books) by DK Publishing, ISBN# 075660740X
• World War I by Donald Sommerville, ISBN#0-8172-5450-1

• America at War, World War II
• History Central, World War II
• National Geographic, Remembering Pearl Harbor
• World Almanac for Kids, World War II

Suggested Reading:

• Usborne Introduction to the Second World War by Paul Dowswell, ISBN# 0-439-81296-8
• World War II by Mike Sharpe, ISBN#0-8172-5451-X
• Air Raid- Pearl Harbor! by Theodore Taylor, ISBN# 0-439-84692-7

• History Central, Korean War
• World Almanac for Kids, Korean War

Suggested Reading:

• I Remember Korea : Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53 by Russell Freedman, ISBN# 061817740X
• The Korean War (Chronicles of America's Wars) by Ruth Tenzer Feldman, ISBN# 0822547163
• Warfare in the Modern World by R. G. Grant, ISBN# 0-8172-5452-8

• History Central, Vietnam war
• World Almanac for Kids, Vietnam War

Suggested Reading:

• Warfare in the Modern World by R. G. Grant, ISBN# 0-8172-5452-8
• Eyewitness Books: Vietnam War by Stuart Murray, ISBN# 0-7566-1586-0
• 10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War by Philip Caputo, ISBN# 1-4169-0725-4

• History Central, Persian Gulf War
• World Almanac for Kids, Persian Gulf War

Suggested Reading:

• The Persian Gulf War (20th Century Perspectives) by Karen Price Hossell, ISBN#  1403438560
• Desert Storm: The First Persian Gulf War in American History by Debra McArthur ISBN# 0766021491
• Warfare in the Modern World by R. G. Grant, ISBN# 0-8172-5452-8

• World Almanac for Kids, War in Iraq
• History Central, Operation Enduring Freedom

Suggested Reading:

• The New York Times: A Nation Challenged, Young Reader's Edition by Staff Of The New York Times, ISBN# 0439488036

Part II: Product

You will now use your research to create a poster for the classroom timeline.  Your poster must include the following information in an organized fashion:

1. A map of the territory where the conflict took place  (maps available at National Geographic, Xpedition Atlas )
2. Photographs, drawings, or other visual representation of leaders or soldiers of the time period
3. Dates of the conflict
4. Who was involved in the conflict
5. What event(s) led to the United States involvement in the conflict
6. Other important information, such as weapons, events, or battles that were significant in this conflict
7. The outcome (what was accomplished) at the end of this conflict
8. Sources: at least one (1) electronic and one (1) written

Evaluation

Your product and participation will be graded according to the following rubric:

Conclusion

You have now learned about one war that impacted the United States and it's citizens.  Share this information with a classmate and ask them to tell you about the war they researched.  You may be surprised to find veterans from many of these wars in your own community, even your own family.  You may like to conduct a personal interview with one of these veterans and compare their experience with those you have read about. 

I hope that you will reflect on the sacrifice of the men and women who bravely fought for the freedom of US citizens and other citizens around the world.  We honor the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice each year on Memorial Day in May.  We also honor Veterans and express appreciation for their service on Veterans Day in November.  As these dates approach, please reflect again on your research and consider how your life would be changed if these men and women had chosen not to fight for the freedoms that you and I enjoy today.

Credits & References

This webquest was created by Cher Wheeler, a teacher at Oak Hill Elementary.

It meets the follow objectives for the NCSCS for fifth grade:

Social Studies

Competency Goal 4: The learner will trace key developments in United States history and describe their impact on the land and people of the nation and its neighboring countries.

4.05 Describe the impact of wars and conflicts on United States citizens, including but not limited to, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the twenty-first century war on terrorism.

English/Language Arts

Competency Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.

3.05 Integrate main idea and supporting details from multiple sources to expand understanding of texts.

3.06 Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g. print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).

Rubric created at www.taskstream.com

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