World War II for Kids: A History with 21 ActivitiesNow more than ever, kids want to know about our country's great struggles during World War II. This book is packed with information that kids will find fascinating, from Hitler's rise to power in 1933 to the surrender of the Japanese in 1945. Much more than an ordinary history book, it is filled with excerpts from actual wartime letters written to and by American and German troops, personal anecdotes from people who lived through the war in the United States, Germany, Britain, Russia, Hungary, and Japan, and gripping stories from Holocaust survivors—all add a humanizing global perspective to the war. This collection of 21 activities shows kids how it felt to live through this monumental period in history. They will play a rationing game or try the butter extender recipe to understand the everyday sacrifices made by wartime families. They will try their hands at military strategy in coastal defense, break a code, and play a latitude and longitude tracking game. Whether growing a victory garden or staging an adventure radio program, kids will appreciate the hardships and joys experienced on the home front. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 27 | |
The Home Front and Life During the War | 47 |
Hope Renewed | 71 |
DDay and Victory in Europe | 87 |
When Every Day Seemed to Be a Year Long | 111 |
Pacific Victory | 135 |
Afterword | 152 |
Glossary | 153 |
Resources | 155 |
World War II Museums | 156 |
Bibliography | 157 |
Key Personalities of World War II | 159 |
Index | 161 |
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Common terms and phrases
11th Panzer 11th Panzer Division Abbott and Costello Africa air force air raid airplanes Allies American troops anti-tank April attack August Axis battle bomb bombers born Britain British Budapest called civilians concentration camps Costello D-Day December defense deportations destroyed Douglas MacArthur enemy England Europe February fighting fire France front German army ghetto Gunskirchen hiding Hitler Howard Hungarian invaded invasion island Italy Japan Japanese Jewish Jews July June kids killed land lives Lou Costello MacArthur March miles military million mortar movie Museum Musya navy Nazis officers Okinawa ordered Pacific Philippines planes Poland President Roosevelt prisoners radio RATION STAMP rationed Russian sent September shell ships Sicily soldiers Soviet Union Stalin stamps stars submarine surrender tanks target Terezin thousands took town train U-boats United victory Wallenberg wartime weapons weeks World World War II
Popular passages
Page 23 - Yesterday, December 7, 1941— a date which will live in infamy— the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
Page 2 - The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise between them, shall never be sought except by pacific means.
Page 20 - Congress, or both, any defense article for the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.
Page 24 - As commander in chief of the army and navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
Page 57 - We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own wellbeing is dependent on the well-being of other nations far away.
Page 57 - In the face of great perils never before encountered, our strong purpose is to protect and to perpetuate the integrity of democracy.
Page 57 - In the days and in the years that are to come we shall work for a just and honorable peace, a durable peace, as today we work and fight for total victory in war. We can and we will achieve such a peace. We shall strive for perfection. We shall not achieve it immediately— but we still shall strive. We may make mistakes— but they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principle.
Page 2 - The High Contracting Parties solemnly declare in the names of their respective peoples that they condemn recourse to war for the solution of international controversies, and renounce it as an instrument of national policy in their relations with one another.
Page 8 - I therefore urge with all earnestness— and I am likewise urging the President of the Republic of Poland— that the Governments of Germany and of Poland agree by common accord to refrain from any positive act of hostility for a reasonable and stipulated period, and that they agree likewise by common accord to solve the controversies which have arisen between them by one of the three following methods: first, by direct negotiation; second...
Page 20 - defense information" means any plan, specification, design, prototype or information pertaining to any defense article. SEC. 3. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the President may, from time to time, when he deems it in the interest of national defense, authorize the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the head of any other department or agency of the government — (1) To manufacture in arsenals, factories and shipyards under their jurisdiction, or otherwise procure,...