How Radar Changed the Course of World War II/The Secret of Tuxedo Park

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Learn how technological innovations developed by MIT’s Radiation Laboratory, or “Rad Lab,” helped tip the balance of World War II to the Allied forces, in this video adapted from The Secret of Tuxedo Park: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, hundreds of scientists and engineers rushed to develop an automated radar device to detect and track an enemy aircraft in flight. Microwave radar systems greatly improved the shooting accuracy of defensive weapons and were used to neutralize the German army’s fearsome V-1 rocket bombs.

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 11 - United States History II

SS10.US2.9

Describe the significance of major battles, events, and consequences of World War II campaigns, including North Africa, Midway, Normandy, Okinawa, the Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima, and the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. [A.1.b., A.1.c., A.1.d., A.1.e., A.1.g., A.1.i., A.1.k.]

UP:SS10.US2.9

Vocabulary

  • WWII campaigns
  • Midway
  • Normandy
  • Okinawa
  • Battle of the Bulge
  • Iwo Jima
  • Yalta Conference
  • Potsdam Conference
  • allied and axis expansion
  • Blitzkrieg
  • island-hopping
  • amphibious landings
  • atomic bomb
  • Holocaust
  • Bataan Death March
  • Nuremberg Trials
  • Declaration of Human Rights
  • Genocide Convention

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Major battles, events, and consequences of World War II campaigns.
  • The location on a map of major battles of WWII and the territorial claims of the different WWII powers.
  • Military strategies used in WWII.
  • Reasons for and results of dropping atomic bombs on Japan.
  • Events, incidents, and consequences of war crimes committed during WWII.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Locate specific points on a map and identify political, social, and geographic changes that occurred during or as a result of a historical event.
  • Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media.
  • Evaluate an author's premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information related to historical events.
  • Read and comprehend historical texts independently and proficiently on various topics related to events that led to WWII and the effect of those events on American foreign policy today.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There were many key events and battles of WWII that had an impact on the outcome of the war, and the relationships between countries in the post-war world.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 09-12 - Human Geography

SS10.HG.3

Identify the characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaics.

UP:SS10.HG.3

Vocabulary

  • characteristics
  • distribution
  • complexity
  • cultural
  • mosaics

Knowledge

Students know:
  • How the belief systems, languages, social structure, customs, traditions, art, food, architecture, and technology all shape culture.
  • The role of popular culture and the impact it has on local culture.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Compare and contrast differing cultures around the world.
  • Identify the role that belief systems, languages, social structure, customs, traditions, art, food, architecture, and technology have in shaping culture.
  • Identify major cultural regions of the world.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are essential components that make-up culture.
  • Culture plays an important role in the human mosaic.

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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