Title: The Changing Role of Women at War

Type of teaching unit: Lesson plan
Grade level: 8, (Can be used and adapted at High School Levels, 9-12)
Time frame: one day
Subject matter: US history

Teacher information

Peggy Emling and Steve Moss
pemling@ecusd7.org and smoss@ecusd7.org
Liberty and Lincoln middle schools
Edwardsville, Illinois

AAM affiliation: Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Lesson Plan Description and Rationale:

In times of conflict, governments use artwork to stir the public’s emotions, to encourage
patriotism and to involve public participation in the war effort. While the use of posters
is one avenue for this propaganda,this artwork also demonstrates society’s attitudes.
To understand how women’s roles have changed over time, students will compare and analyze
two posters from World War I and from World War II that portray the role of women in the
war effort.

State Standards:

Social science:

STATE GOAL 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the
history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
16.A.3b Make inferences about historical events and eras using historical maps and other
historical sources.
16.A.3c Identify the differences between historical fact and interpretation.

English/Language Arts:

STATE GOAL 5: Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information
5.B.3a Choose and analyze information sources for individual, academic and functional purposes.
5.B.3b Identify, evaluate and cite primary sources.

Objectives:

Students will analyze wartime posters to understand how the roles of women changed between
World War I and World War II.

Extension:

With a partner, students will research a current conflict that involves U.S. troops
(i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan), and they will create a poster that depicts the role of women..

Resources:

	Flagg, James Montgomery. “Wake up America! Civilization calls every man, woman and child!” 1917.  Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/i?pp/ils:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3g03802)) +@field(COLLID+pos)):displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf] (April 2004).
	Gibson, Charles Dana. “Help her carry on! National League for Women's Service.” 1918. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/i?pp/ils:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3g05762)) +@field(COLLID+wwipos)):displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=>] (April 2004).
	Palmer, Alfred T. “The more women at work the sooner we win! : Women are needed also as [...] See your local U.S. Employment Service.” 1943. American Women: A Gateway to Library of Congress Resources for the Study of Women's History and Culture in the United States. [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/awhbib:@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3c12283))] (April 2004).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods:

As a class, look at the World War I poster “Wake up, America!” Have students describe what
they see. Ask them who the woman is or symbolizes. Ask them during what time period they
think the poster was made. During what conflict was this created? What do you think women
were meant to do for “civilization”?

Assessment:

Students will write a compare/contrast paragraph about the World War I and World War II posters.

Keywords: propaganda, women, world war I, world war II