"UNLESS someone like you, cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better...it's not" The Lorax

Abstract: Students create a foundation to experience events of World War II through a multiple perspective framework using Internet research. Students research and summarize the experiences of diverse groups of Americans involved in World War II. Students will summarize their findings in a class wikispace (jigsaw style) and briefly present. Future World War II unit work will use this foundational research to reflect on events from multiple perspectives.

Learning Targets: 1. Students develop a broad understanding of the diverse groups/sub-populations of Americans participating in the war effort and their struggle to be seen as equals who could contribute their talents. (concept) 2. Students learn how to use Internet research to find information. (skill) 3. Students learn how to summarize and share their research information on a class wikispace. (skill)

Context: Designed for 6^th grade history/social studies. Students can select groups from the predefined list or select one that may have personal meaning in their family or community. Intended for early use in a World War II unit. Assumes school has lab or some combination of computers that can be made available for learning periods. All learning and independent work will occur onsite to ensure every group has access to a computer and the guidance of a teacher. Assumes students have some experience conducting Internet research, but no experience with a wikispace.

Learning Episode One: After student working groups are selected, students are introduced to WIKI technology basics and practice editing a classroom WIKI by entering their names on a wikispace listing specific groups of Americans during World War II (i.e. Tuskegee Airman, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, Home Front Women:Rosie the Riveter, Navajo Marine Corps Signal Units, Interned Japanese-Americans, etc.). With teams seated at computers, the teacher reviews how to search for information (guided practice) with Google (should not be their first experience) and describes what the students will need to do to complete the assignment, which includes: 1. Conducting Internet research about their group. 2. Summarizing the group’s contribution to WWII and any struggle they may have endured to participate. One to two paragraph summary is sufficient. 3. Posting a historical photo, symbol, video, or sound recording of the group. Learning Episodes Two & Three: Students will be given class time to conduct research and create their wikispace entries. Each group will create their own wikispace page with one to two paragraphs and a few images. When they feel their page is complete, they will create a summary statement and a link from the class wikispace to their detail page. Learning Episode Four: Each group will be given time to prepare a brief presentation and review the findings of other groups on the wikispace. Each group will then give a two-minute presentation of their researched group.

Connections to our model of learning: This jigsaw styled exercise will expand student’s perception of who participated in World War II. Students will visually see the contributions of their class members and get a broader view than if students were to research independently. The students experience and revise their understanding of World War II through the process of researching and learning about their groups. Students communicate and reflect on their learning through the synthesis of information for the wikispace and their presentations. With this foundational work, the experience-revision-communication-reflection cycle can be revisited through the eyes of each researched group throughout the World War II unit. The original student research pairs can be reengaged to deepen and share how their group may have been involved or thought about certain events of World War II.