Materials

• Textbook
• Colored pencils

Instructional Activities

1. Before beginning this activity, ask students to list significant events that are connected to World War II. The length of the list will depend on students’ previous knowledge. List students’ answers on the board.
   
   
2. After completing the list, use the information to review some of the major economic and political conditions in Europe that made the rise of fascism possible. Students should understand the meaning of the word fascism and be familiar with the major fascist dictators of the period.
   
   
3. Have the students create an illustrated timeline of the time period, which includes significant events of World War II. Refer back to the list students created on the board. The timeline should include the following for each event:
   • Event name: short event description
   • Date(s)
   • Small illustration or symbol.
        
        For example:    Germany and the Soviet Union invade Poland:
                                after Germany and the Soviet Union marched into
                                Poland, Great Britain declared war on Germany.
                                1939
                                (Small illustration of a German tank rolling over the outline of Poland)
   
   
   Sample events to be included in the timeline are
   • Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
   • Germany and the Soviet Union invade Poland
   • Germany invades France
   • Battle of Britain
   • Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
   • Battle of Midway
   • Battle of Stalingrad
   • Battle of Normandy (D-Day)
   • United States drops two atomic bombs
   
   
4. When students have completed their timelines, discuss what the United States and/or its allies might have done to prevent certain events that led to war from happening. Have students consider what the United States might have done earlier to help stop Hitler. How did the United States’ isolationist policy help lead the world into war?