Context

World War II, a historical event that began in 1939 and lasted until 1945, was the largest conflict in human history. It involved more than 30 countries, resulted in approximately 50 to 70 million fatalities, and reshaped the world's sociopolitical landscape. The war led to a strong peace treaty and the creation of the United Nations - with the aim of preventing future conflicts on such a scale.

The war was mainly divided between the Allies and the Axis. The Allies, led by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, and the United States, were fighting against the Axis powers, comprising Germany, Italy, and Japan. The reasons for the conflict were diverse, but included Germany and Japan's dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles, the economic problems of these countries, and the desire for additional territories.

Students will have the opportunity to study World War II in depth, learning about its significance, causes, major events, political and social developments, and the lessons learned from one of the greatest wars in history. The study of the war, its implications, and consequences will provide an important understanding of the historical events that shaped the modern world. In this process, students will also learn and apply research skills, critical analysis, strategic thinking, and communication, which are essential for their academic and professional development.

Students can base their study on reliable sources such as books, videos, documentaries, and academic websites, such as:

• Book: 'The Second World War' by Antony Beevor. (Available in Portuguese with the title 'A Segunda Guerra Mundial')
• Documentary: 'The World at War'. (Available on YouTube with Portuguese subtitles)
• Website: BBC - World War II
• Website: National Archives of World War II.

These sources provide an in-depth and accurate view of the events, strategies, key figures, and implications of the war. It is important for students to use these sources to understand the historical context and to support their opinions and analyses.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Simulation of World War II

Project Objective:

Students will creatively recreate the key events of World War II, identifying the causes, dynamics, political developments, forms of violence, and main victims. The project will integrate disciplines such as History and Geography, and students will also learn about time management and teamwork.

Detailed Project Description:

The groups, composed of 3 to 5 students, will be assigned to represent the main countries involved in the war. Each group will have to research and deeply understand the role of their country in the conflict, including its motivations, strategies, major events, and consequences.

Students will produce a detailed timeline representing the key events of the war, including declarations of war, major battles, strategic turning points, alliance policies, forms of violence, and crimes against humanity. They will also physically represent territorial movements and geopolitical developments using maps.

Additionally, students will prepare an oral presentation explaining the role of the country they represent, including the motivations for the war, the strategies adopted, the main battles they participated in, and the post-war results for the country.

Required Materials:

Each group needs:

• Internet access for research.
• Cardboard paper, colored pencils, markers for creating the timeline.
• Large maps to represent territorial changes.
• Various materials for the presentation (e.g., poster support, projector for PowerPoint presentations).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Formation of groups and assignment of countries to each group.
2. Research on the country's role in World War II, using the suggested sources and others chosen by the group.
3. Creation of a detailed timeline and map showing the country's territorial movements during the war.
4. Preparation and rehearsal of the oral presentation.
5. Presentation of the project to the class and discussion.
6. Based on research, practical activities, and discussions, each group will write the final document on World War II, following the structure: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used.

Project Delivery:

At the end of the project, groups will deliver:

• The detailed timeline and map.
• Copy of the oral presentation.
• Written document, in which they must:
  • In the Introduction, contextualize World War II and the project's objective, including the relevance and application of the theme in the real world.
  • In the Development, explain the theory behind World War II, detail the activity carried out, indicate the methodology used, and present and discuss the results obtained.
  • In the Conclusions, summarize the main points, explain the lessons learned, and draw conclusions about the project.
  • In the Bibliography, indicate the sources used for the project.

Through the process of research, creation, and discussion, students will develop a deep understanding of World War II, as well as important skills such as teamwork, research, critical analysis, and communication.