World Wars Teaching Resources
Everything you need to teach about World War I and World War II in your elementary or middle school history classes is here. Explore comprehension passages, worksheets, Google Slide templates and more teacher resources created by teachers to help students understand why the US got involved in the two major world wars and the impacts each one had globally and on American society.
Is this your first year teaching students about the world wars? Not sure where to begin? Read on for some helpful answers to kids' big questions about World Wars One and Two, plus some handy ideas for teaching about world wars from our teacher team.
What Is a World War? A Kid-Friendly Definition
The term world war may be one that's familiar to your students after years of attending Veterans Day assemblies and Memorial Day parades. They may even have family members, friends or neighbors who have served or are serving in wars that are being waged overseas.
But how do you explain what is considered a world war to your students? Here's how our teacher team explains this term to our classes:
A world war is technically any war that involves the military of many of the biggest nations in the world, however, the phrase is typically only used to refer to two specific wars that were fought in the 20th century.
These wars are known as World War 1 and World War 2.
Engaging Ideas for Teaching About World War I and World War II
World War I ended in 1918, and World War II ended in 1945. With that in mind, it may be hard for today's students to envision life in a world overshadowed by war. So how do you engage your classes in this important historical topics?
In addition to the printable and digital teacher resources in this collection, we've put together some ideas to help you capture your students' attention:
1. Create an Archduke Ferdinand Murder Mystery
Considered the start of World War I, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914 changed the world as its known today.
Challenge your students to solve the mystery of who killed the archduke and why with a murder mystery.
Create an old-fashioned silhouette on the ground in your classroom using painter's tape, and hide clues throughout the classroom leading your students to the identity of Bosnian Serb — and gunman — Gavrilo Princip
2. Re-enact Life in the Trenches
Line a section of your classroom with lines of brown paper, and have students sit on the paper to imagine what life was like for soldiers serving in the trenches in World War I. You can pair this with a writing exercise, with students writing letters home as if they were soldiers fighting in a war far, far from home.
3. Explore the World War Dazzle Boats
Are you familiar with the dazzle boats from World War I and II? Painted with zebra stripes, these boats used by British and American forces were supposed to "dazzle" the enemy, and the story is sure to dazzle your fourth graders too!
Why not take a cross-curricular approach to the topic, studying the artist who invented this unique camouflage, researching the individual boats and even exploring optical illusions in your science lessons?
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Women In WWI – Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Read to learn about women in World War I with a printable reading passage and comprehension worksheet.
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Navajo Code Talkers Constructed Response Worksheet
Discover the impact of the Navajo Code Talkers on the outcome of World War II with a cross-curricular constructed response worksheet.
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Comprehension Pack
Read and learn about Dwight D. Eisenhower with a reading passage and comprehension questions.
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World War I Flipbook
Discover the causes and major events of World War I with a WWI Flipbook.
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World War I Comprehension Packet
Blend reading and social studies content with a printable set of World War 1 Reading Passages and accompanying question sets.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt Facts and Details Comprehension Pack
Read and learn about Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a reading passage and comprehension questions.
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The Holocaust - Reading and Writing Worksheets
Integrate reading, writing, and world history with a group of Holocaust reading passages, comprehension questions, and writing worksheets.
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The Holocaust - Note-Taking Template
Provide your learners with an organized note-taking method with a Holocaust note-taking template.
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The Holocaust Instructional Slide Deck
Lead your students through one of the darkest periods in human history with an instructional slide deck about the Holocaust.
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World War II - Instructional Slide Deck
Learn about the United States’ entrance into World War 2 with an instructional Slide deck.
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The Holocaust - Timeline Worksheet and Passage
Craft a chronological timeline for students to visually model the events leading up to, during, and after the Holocaust.
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Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) Constructed Response Worksheet
Use our printable constructed response writing prompts for fourth grade to learn about the fearless Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs).
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World War II Cloze Activity
Use this cloze reading passage to boost academic vocabulary and teach your students about World War 2.
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World War II Task Cards
Review the historical era surrounding the Second World War in the United States with a set of task cards.
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The Great Depression Word Search
Increase academic vocabulary with a Great Depression word search.
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WWII Word Wall - World War 2 Words
Build academic vocabulary skills with an illustrated World War 2 vocabulary word wall.
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Roaring Twenties Word Search
Build academic vocabulary skills with a Roaring Twenties word search for middle school students.
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World War II Word Search
Build academic vocabulary skills with a World War 2 word search for 5th graders.
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The Holocaust Mini Book
Blend reading and social studies content with a printable book about the Holocaust, designed with elementary and middle school students in mind.
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World War I Crossword Puzzle
Review World War I ideas and vocabulary words with a crossword puzzle.
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World War II Cause and Effect Worksheet
Practice identifying cause and effect with a World War 2 worksheet.
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World War II for Kids - Mini Book
Build vocabulary and understanding of the causes, events, and outcomes of WW2 with a printable mini book and comprehension questions.
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World War II -Timeline Worksheet
Craft a chronological timeline for students to visually model the events that led to the United States’ entry into World War II.
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Printable World War 1 Map of Europe
Printable map of Europe and World War 1 to use in the classroom when learning about WW1.
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World War 1 Vocabulary Words
Display important WW1 vocabulary words with a printable and customizable word wall.
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World War I - PowerPoint Template
A World War I themed PowerPoint Template to add some color and design to your classroom PowerPoint presentations.