TITLE: HIStories - HERstories

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Grade Level
4th - 8th grade

Curriculum Objective
Students will use research skills to develop a personal interview with someone who was involved in a war. Students will develop an awareness of point of view perspectives in the inquiry process.

Time required
2 weeks

Content Area
English/Language Arts

English/Language Arts TEKS Addressed
(5.13) Reading/inquiry/research. The student inquires and conducts research using a variety of sources. The student is expected to
(A) form and revise questions for investigations, including questions arising from interest and units of study (4-5);
(B) use text organizers, including headings, graphic features, and tables of contents, to locate and organize information (4-8);
(C) use multiple sources, including electronic texts, experts, and print resources, to locate information relevant to research questions (4-8);
(D) interpret and use graphic sources of information such as maps, graphs, time lines, tables, or diagrams to address research questions (4-5);
(E) summarize and organize information from multiple sources by taking notes, outlining ideas, and making charts (4-8);
(F) produce research projects and reports in effective formats using visuals to support meaning as appropriate (4-5);
(G) draw conclusions from information gathered from multiple sources (4-8); and
(H) use compiled information and knowledge to raise additional, unanswered questions (3-8).

Resources:

• Kaycie's Story
  lund/kayciepa.HTM
  
• Caitlin's Story
  gans/caitlinpa.HTM
  
• Private Art
  http://www.private-art.com/
  A collection of World War II letters to and from home.
  
• Victory in Europe: The End of the War through the Eyes of a Teenager
  http://www.cyberplus.ca/~chrism/viceur.htm
  A World War II story from a teenager's point of view.

Procedure
Read "Kaycie's Story". Read "Caitlin's Story". Discuss what causes someone to chose life in the military. Use the links provided in the resources section to read stories about others during the war. Also, read the comments added to the Read Stories from Others section of our web site. (guestlog.htm) Develop interview questions designed to emphasize the narrator's point of view.
Examples:
Why did you choose to fight?
Why did you choose this branch of the military?
Were you afraid you would be killed?
Did you miss anyone in particular while you were away?
What was your biggest fear?

Interview at least one person and organize interview notes in an outline format showing sequence of events over time. Choose one of the following activities:

1. Write an editorial piece for a newspaper recognizing the person's efforts during the war.
   
2. Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the stories from the textbook with your live interviews.
   
3. Read Kaycie's Story and discuss his parents point of view when he asked to sign up at the age of 14. Write a position paper on how old you should be before you should be allowed to go to war. Defend your choice.

Evaluation
Survey
News item

Extension
After sharing the point of view stories in class, create a chart showing which branches of the military were represented. Develop skits which will exemplify the rivalry between the different branches of the military.

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