The topic of WWII is often introduced in middle school and revisited in more detail in high school. There are many resources available to parents of children who show an interest in WWII and are eager to dig deeper into this fascinating subject. Here are 10 great World War II resources for homeschoolers to help you get started.
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1. Games
Games are a fun and interactive way for children to be exposed to new concepts. While you might not think there are many options for history games, there certainly are!
Video games are another option that are sure to catch your children’s attention. This website contains a variety of games and interactive videos and images for your student to view. However, as you would likely expect, some may contain violence or some graphic images, so do preview them before your student plays.
2. Videos, Stories, and Photos
Many children are visual learners. This can be difficult with topics like history where there aren’t as many interactive options for learning. Documentaries and even photos can be a great aid to social studies in your homeschool. There are several documentaries about World War II with valuable info and an engaging format.
3. Books
A list of “50 of the Best World War II Books for Middle Schoolers” is a must-have resource. You can find it on nourishingmyscholar.com. While no list is comprehensive, this one is very thorough. Each book has a short summary and recommended age range, from picture books to chapter books and audiobooks.
4. Ducksters
Ducksters is a history website aimed at kids to help them learn about various events and time periods in history. Their page on World War II is filled with a variety of resources including links to battles, leaders, events overviews, and more. You can find material here to supplement any history curriculum!
5. Puzzles
When children put together puzzles, they’re looking at the same reference image for extended periods of time as they work to assemble the puzzle. With this, they learn the information in the puzzle without even realizing it! Puzzles can be a great memorization tool for your student regarding history topics. This puzzle has pictures of the tanks from many countries involved in World War II. If you look in the suggested items, there are several other similar puzzles to look at, so you can choose one that works for you!
6. Museums
Museums make a great educational field trip, and you can find many that include exhibits on World War II. This can be a great chance for kids to learn the material in an engaging and interactive way. Many museums also offer discounts for homeschoolers at certain days/times, so definitely check on that! Or, if you don’t have a physical museum near you, you could look online for a virtual tour of a museum, like this one from the National World War II foundation.
7. FundaFunda Academy
Of course, here at FundaFunda, we have several resources to help your students learn about World War II as well. We have two unit studies about World War II in our store. This one discusses important figures in World War II, and this one gives a year-by-year breakdown of the events of the war. Additionally, we offer our high school U.S. History Class, where your child will learn about America’s involvement in WWII as well as many other historical topics
8. Choose Your Own Adventure Books
Choose Your Own Adventure books provide an engaging way for kids to learn about WWII by immersing them in interactive narratives where they make pivotal decisions throughout the story. By assuming the role of characters navigating through the challenges of the era, readers gain insight into historical events, perspectives, and dilemmas. These books encourage critical thinking, empathy, and exploration of WWII history while fostering a sense of agency and personal investment in the learning process. Popular titles include World War II: An Interactive History Adventure, What if you were on the Pacific Front in WWII?, What is you were on the European Front in WWII?, and Can you survive a WWII escape?.
9. Primary Source Analysis
Studying primary sources such as letters, diaries, photographs, and propaganda posters from WWII can help kids develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of historical events and perspectives. Thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of primary source s to be explored! A great place to start is DOCSTeach, which is a collection of primary sources from the national archives. They have links to primary sources and teaching activities that go with them!
10. Hands-On Activities
Engaging in hands-on activities like building model airplanes, tanks, or ships from WWII can provide kids with a tactile learning experience while fostering an appreciation for the technology and innovation of the era. There are a lot of kits that you can find on Amazon, like this one that teaches you how to build a model Hawker Typhoon plane.
11. Family and Oral Histories
Encouraging kids to talk to older family members or community members who lived through WWII can provide personal connections to history and help kids understand the impact of the war on individuals and communities. Sometimes museums will also host events where people who fought in WWII will give presentations. Be on the lookout at museums in your community!
12. Role-Playing and Simulations
Engaging in role-playing activities or simulations that recreate aspects of WWII, such as air raid drills or rationing exercises, can help kids empathize with the experiences of people living during the war and understand the challenges they faced. It is an exciting way to learn history, and gives kids a greater connection to the material. Additionally, there are a number of online programs that allow kids to role-play as a world power during WWII, like this one from historysimulation.com.
We hope you enjoyed these World War II resources for homeschoolers! If you have other suggestions, as always, please leave them in the comments down below. Thanks for reading!
