C. A. Petuch
This course is designed for juniors but could also be used with general senior classes. It will require one semester to complete the unit.
Because of the number of countries involved in World War II, I have narrowed down my choice of novels to ones with universal interest. Teachers may substitute novels from the student bibliography to suit their interests.
I have chosen a novel to represent the following experiences: the Jewish experience in Poland, the British experience during the Blitz, the Japanese experience in Hiroshima and the German experience of those in Germany who opposed Hitler’s plans. The American GI experience will be addressed through the use of nonfiction selections written by journalists.
I will use the photography and artwork from the Time-Life World War II series to give the unit that “historical quality” it needs in order to be an interdisciplinary success. Needless to say, the artwork and photography could be used as a springboard for both discussions and written assignment.
As classroom materials, I will also include tapes of music associated with World War II and some speeches given by Winston Churchill.