TITLE: THE IDENTIFICATION, THE MAPPING, AND
THE PERSONIFICATION OF COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN WORLD WAR II
AUTHOR: Shirlee G. Vale, John Ehret Senior High School, Marrero, LA
GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
OVERVIEW: This activity is designed to help students appreciate the
geography, actions, and relationships of countries involved in World
War II.
PURPOSE: The floor map gives students a different perspective of
geography and an opportunity to creatively demonstrate the
knowledge they have gained. It reinforce traditional map work and
builds confidence.
OBJECTIVES: The students will:
1. Create their own map of Europe, Northern Africa, and the
Pacific.
2. Locate, identify, and speak for one of the countries involved.
3. Classify the country they represent as an Axis Power or as an
Allied Power.
In order to facilitate this activity, arrange the classroom desks in a
large circle. A large area of floor space is needed.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
STUDENT MATERIALS: Text with map or references, various colors
and sizes of poster board or construction paper, scissors, markers,
pointer or yard stick.
TEACHER MATERIALS: Sheets of paper with names of countries
written on them and headings as mentioned in activity 9.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1. Using various sizes, shapes, and colors of poster board material
or construction paper, assist the students in creating their own
geometrical map. Do not cut out the outline of countries but do try
to consider shapes and proportions. Have students use references
and assist one another. (For example: They might use one square
sheet of black poster paper to represent Germany. A long
rectangular piece of red paper could represent Italy, etc.) Let the
floor be the water area.
2. Direct students to select an appropriate shape and color for each
country and to print the country's name on it. Do not tape, glue or in
anyway try to permanently adhere these together. Students will
simply place the paper on the floor, overlapping or underlapping as
they see fit. Allow students to adjust, to suggest alterations, and
to change the arrangement until they are satisfied that they can
clearly recognize their map.
3. Use a yard stick or pointer to locate geographical features and to
review relationships between countries and actions taken by those
involved in World War II.
4. Hold up a sheet of paper with the name of a country on it. Ask for
students to volunteer to personify and speak for that country. This
is a good opportunity for them to review what they have learned
about personifications in their English classes. Continue to hand out
the names of countries until you have distributed those you wish to
include in your review.
5. Call several "countries" to the middle of the room. Instruct them
to use the pointer to show their location on the map. Ask a question
such as: "Austria what would you like to say to Germany?" Ask the
"country" to speak; encourage a dialogue to develop between them.
(Students should be instructed to speak in the first person.) Allow
them to dramatize and to become emotional if they choose to do so.
6. Ask one "country" if it agrees with the statement or position
taken by another. Allow students from the class to state if they
agree or disagree with the statements made. ("Is this really what
'Czechoslovakia' would say?")
7. Dramatization should be encouraged. Some students may wish to
walk all over the map and to speak strongly if that represents their
"country's" position.
8. "Countries" may then challenge one another about what would
have happened "IF" different actions or events had occurred. Let
them defend their positions.
9. On the floor aside from the map, place three papers with
headings: ALLIED POWERS, AXIS POWERS, NEUTRAL. Call each
country's name randomly and ask the student holding the name of
that country to place the paper on the floor under the appropriate
title. This can serve as a review.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
Students can evaluate and analyze their own performance and
demonstration of understanding and knowledge. This activity may
be repeated by different students the next day. The map may be
disassembled and reassembled as a test of geographical awareness.
An appropriate home learning assignment might be to ask students
to complete the statement: "IF I COULD SPEAK FOR THE COUNTRY OF _
_____________IN THE YEAR ___________ , I WOULD SAY:________"
(Let students select 5 out of a list of countries and dates
involved in World War II.)
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org