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Behind Barbed Wire:  Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany

a TRACES exhibit

Introduction:

The purpose of the BUS-eum to allow students a glimpse of history via a traveling exhibit.  This lesson on Midwest POWs in Nazi Germany will give students a pictorial and written view of the POWs’ capture, interrogation, transport, camp life, work, food, freetime, etc.—including their survival tactics during captivity.  The students will prepare for touring the BUS-eum either by reading their text book or (strongly recommended) the related narrative texts on the TRACES website at www.TRACES.org.  The students will then tour the BUS-eum and fill out a worksheet on their specific topic.  At the completion of this lesson and visit of the BUS-eum, the students will better understand and be able to explain what happened to POWs during World War II.

 

Objectives:  (The degree to which each objective ought to be met is not included; each teacher can set their own standards in accordance to the class.)

  1. The students will be able to describe the men’s military experiences prior to, during and after captivity.

  2. The students will find a modern-day application to their topic.

  3. The students will be able to judge the BUS-eum’s information on the Midwest POWs.

  4. The students will verbally present their information from the tour.

 

Materials:

  1. BUS-eum Tour

  2. Internet Web browser

  3. Computer access

  4. Worksheet

 

Procedural Steps:

  1. Upon arrival to the BUS-eum, the students will have read either their textbook or the BUS-eum on-line narrative text (found at www.TRACES.org).

  2. Announcement of due date for worksheet.

  3. Pass out the worksheet to the students; explain the purpose of the worksheet and the assignment with it.

  4. Divide the students among the exhibit panels, by topic. Depending on classroom size, you might have to allow students to do either one or two panels. (There are about 20 panels, although some panels have more than one topic on them.)

  5. The students will tour the BUS-eum and find their panel that they need to report on.

  6. Students will carry a notepad during the tour to write down their findings.

  7. Students will fill out the worksheet once they have visited the BUS-eum.

  8. The next class period after the BUS-eum the students will be required to present on their BUS-eum topic to the class.

 

Joanne Brunello of Des Moines’ Drake University created this lesson plan (© March 2004).

It may be reproduced or modified for educational purposes.