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Captain Harry Truman

Lesson Author
Scott, Joshua
Course(s)
American History
Great American Presidents
Required Time Frame
1-2 class periods depending on familiarity with subject
Subject(s)
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972
Grade Level(s)
9
10
11
Lesson Abstract
This is lecture activity using power discussing the importance of and impact of WWI specifically from the point of view of Harry S. Truman. The lecture follows the decision of the 33 year old veteran from the farm to France leaving his mom and sister.
Description

This is lecture activity using power discussing the importance of and impact of WW I specifically from the point of view of Harry S. Truman.  The lecture will follow the decision of the 33 year old veteran from the farm to France leaving his mom and sister to run the farm and his fiancé yearning his safe return.

Rationale (why are you doing this?)

President Truman has risen up the ladder of presidential ratings in recent years.  In order to understand several of President Truman’s decisions one must study the impact the war had on his presidency. 

Lesson Objectives - the student will
  • Students will understand why Harry Truman joined the war effort and the sacrifices he made by leaving the farm.
  • Students will study the rise of Truman to Captain and the development of his leadership style.
  • Students will understand the impact of WW I on Truman and will be able to discuss the importance of these lessons on his Presidency.
District, state, or national performance and knowledge standards/goals/skills met

Missouri Standards 

  • Knowledge of continuity and change in the history of Missouri, the United States and the world.

KANSAS STANDARDS (High School-US History)

Benchmark 1: The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of individuals, groups, ideas, developments, and turning points in the era of the emergence of the modern United States (1890-1930).

7. (A) analyzes how the home front was influenced by United States involvement in World War I (e.g., Food Administration, Espionage Act, Red Scare, influenza, Creel Committee).

Secondary materials (book, article, video documentary, etc.) needed

 

Primary sources needed (document, photograph, artifact, diary or letter, audio or visual recording, etc.) needed
Technology Required

 Power point     Computer      TV or Smart Board 

Fully describe the activity or assignment in detail. What will both the teacher and the students do?

This will be one of my first days on President Truman.  It is an important day as not only will I discuss the war’s impact on Truman, but also the similarities of Truman with the experiences of other General Presidents such as Washington and Jackson whom we would have already discussed.  Not much time will be spent on Truman’s specific study, but instead we will investigate the impact on Truman’s life and his future presidency. 

Assessment: fully explain the assessment method in detail or create and attach a scoring guide

The assessment will be a test over Truman’s Presidency.  There will be short answer questions about the impact his WW I experiences had on his decisions. 

Online Collection
Harry Truman’s World War I