Ohio and Its World War II Effort

Lesson Plan
 

Temporary location in Ohio for making aircraft sub-assembly parts during wwii

This former airship dock was a temporary Ohio location for making aircraft sub-assembly parts during WWII.


Concept / Topic to Teach:

How Ohio’s normal resource allocation was redirected to provide resources for the War effort.
 

Grade Level:

4th
 

Standards Addressed:

Identify the productive resources needed to produce a good or service and suggest opportunity costs for the resources involved.
 
Explain how the availability of productive resources in Ohio promotes specialization in the production of goods and services and leads to trade.
 

Duration:

45 minutes (3 days)
 

General Goal(s):

To learn about Ohio resources, and to see how normal resource production would have changed during World War II.

 

Specific Objectives:

To show the effect of the World War II effort on the Ohio economy.
 

Required Materials:

Social Studies Textbook, Ohio Its Land and Its People workbook
Internet resources
Ohio State Maps
 

Primary Sources Used:

 

Warm-up:

Discuss what effect war could have on a 9 or 10-year-old child.
 

Step-By-Step Procedures:

Talk about the different resources both natural and manufactured that are produced in Ohio. (i.e. oil, natural gas, dairy cows, corn, soybeans, etc.) 
 
Talk about what resources would be needed to fight a war (i.e. planes, tanks, food for troops, etc.)
 

Homework and Practice:

Survey your family members to see how much they know about the World War II. Ask them how much did the war effect Ohio’s economy?
 

Assessment Based On Objectives:

Write and essay and tell how you think the war helped or hurt Ohio’s economy.
 

Adaptations (For Students with Learning Disabilities):

I would have students tell about a time they had to give up something they really wanted in order to help someone else.
 

Extensions (For Gifted Students):

Certain items were rationed in order to make sure that supplies were readily available for the war effort. Tell how you would feel if you had the money to buy your favorite toy, but you weren’t allowed to buy it because that item was being used for something else.
 

Possible Connections to Other Subjects:

Math - I would look at the pre-war and post war production of manufactured items. I would have students see how many more or less of certain were being produced before, during, and after the war.