War brings a whole new set of ethical dilemmas. From deciding whether to enlist in a segregated and racist Army to whether to sacrifice civilian lives to prepare for a critical D-Day invasion, leaders during World War II faced many difficult decisions. Using discussion questions and a worksheet, learners examine videos profiling some of the tough choices and then compare what they would do in similar circumstances.

Concepts

world war ii, ethics, discussion skills, group discussions, evaluating sources, primary source images

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

social studies

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Use discussion questions to supplement the videos in the  set
• Create a jigsaw-style discussion to examine various ethical scenarios 

Classroom Considerations

• Part of the larger War in Europe series
• Learners need the ability to independently review videos referenced in the activity plan

Pros

• Activity is student-led and develops critical thinking skills
• Structure allows for civil discourse on controversial issues

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.2 WHST.6-8.1.a WHST.9-10.9