Objective: Identify and understand the Battle of Midway as a key point in the war

Name:
WW II:
through interaction with and collaborative analysis of an interactive map.
WH Content Standard 10.8.3. Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers on Period:
a map and discuss the major turning points of the war, the principal theaters of
conflict, key strategic decisions, and the resulting war conferences and political
Battles in the Pacific Assignment #:
resolutions, with emphasis on the importance of geographic factors.
Instruction:
• With a partner, click on the interactive map posted on Google Classroom, go to the year 1942, and look at the countries that are labeled as
Allied and Axis powers.
• On this map handout, color the Allied powers blue and the Axis powers red. (2pts)
• On the interactive map, find the Battle of Midway.
• Using a pencil or black pen, circle the area that the Battle of Midway took place in, and write “Battle of Midway” by it. (2pts)
• After both you and your partner finish annotating the maps, go to the questions on the next page, discuss and write down your answers.
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1. Name 4 countries on the Allied side. (1pt)

2. Name 4 countries on the Axis side. (1pt)

3. Look at the interactive map to jog your memory and consider what you have
already learned. What was another important event that happened around this
area? Write your answer here, and label it on the map. (2pts)

4. What were the main countries involved in that event? (1pt)

5. Read the description for the Battle of Midway on the interactive map. Who were
the two main countries involved in the Battle of Midway? (1pt)

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Objective: Identify and understand the Battle of Midway as a key point in the war Name:
through interaction with and collaborative analysis of timelines and documents.
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WH Content Standard 10.8.3. Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers on Period:
a map and discuss the major turning points of the war, the principal theaters of
conflict, key strategic decisions, and the resulting war conferences and political
resolutions, with emphasis on the importance of geographic factors. Assignment #:

Instructions:
• You will be separated into 6 groups and given an envelope with cards of events from the
Battle of Midway.
• Each person in the group needs to pick up a card with one of the events.
• In your group, read the events together and discuss with one another the order of events.
• Everyone in the group will need to stand in the order of events that your group believes is
the right order.
• On the timeline below, put the number that is assigned to the event in the order that your
group has decided on.

Your Group’s Timeline (6pts):

Correct Timeline (6pts):

Instructions:
• Write down the correct number and event in proper order as it is revealed.
 As a result, the commander in
Chief of the US Pacific Fleet,
Japan targeted Midway Island, Admiral Chester Nimitz, knew
west of Hawaii, the home to a that a Japanese fleet was heading
key American airfield. towards Midway. The Japanese
fleet was the largest naval force
ever assemble.
5 1
As Japanese planes flew over American pilots destroyed over
Midway, American carrier planes 300 planes, 4 aircraft carriers,
attacked Japanese ships with and one support ship. Yamamoto
airplanes still on deck. ordered his crippled fleet to
withdraw.
6 2
Nimitz was outnumbered, but he
prepared an ambush for the
Japanese at Midway. Nimitz
allowed the enemy to launch the
first strike.
4
However, by June 1942, yet
another Japanese code had been
broken.
3
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Document Analysis
“Because of developments during the First Phase Operations, the enemy's outposts1 which he had relied
on to be his first line of defense, collapsed one after another until he began to feel direct threats even to
such areas as India, Australia, and Hawaii. The enemy was exerting every pressure to stem this tide by
stepping up his submarine strength in the waters controlled by us and by increasing his air strength in
the Australia area…

…Midway acts as a sentry2 for Hawaii. Its importance was further enhanced after the loss of Wake and it
was apparent that the enemy was expediting the reinforcing of its defensive installations, its air base
facilities, and other military installations as well as the personnel.”

Excerpt from “Japanese Story of the Battle of Midway, (A Translation)”

By Admiral Nagumo, written 1942; translated by Office of Naval Intelligence, published 1947
1
outpost: a small military camp/position some distance away from the main force
2
sentry: a soldier stationed to keep guard or control access to a place

1. Source Type (1pt): Is this source primary or secondary? (circle one)

a) primary (eyewitness/first-hand account)

b) secondary (interpretation of primary source/second-hand account)?

2. Time (1pt): When was this document written?

3. Perspective (1pt): Who wrote the document and what kind of person is talking about the Battle
of Midway in this passage (nationality and position/job)?

4. Perspective (1pt): How could this affect the information being presented?

5. Observation (2pts): According to the passage, what was the condition of the United States prior
to the Battle of Midway?

6. Observation (2pts): According to the passage, why was Midway an important location?
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Application (5pts): Why was the Battle of Midway an important turning point during the war?

Write a clear paragraph with at least 5 sentences, including a topic sentence that answers the prompt
and a concluding sentence that wraps up the paragraph. Cite evidence from the map worksheet,
document, and/or timeline. (Refer to the rubric below)
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Rubric
Points are given for each of the following (5pts total):
• At least 5 sentences (1pt)
• A topic sentence that clearly answers the prompt (1pt)
• A concluding sentence that summarizes and wraps up the paragraph (1pt)
• Evidence from map worksheet, document, and/or timeline with citations in parentheses (1pt)
• Clear, well explained, and well supported answer throughout the paragraph (1pt)
Performance Task Rubric
Key Criteria Points Self Other Teacher
Possible
1. At least 5 sentences 1
2. A topic sentence that clearly answers the prompt 1
3. A concluding sentence that summarizes and wraps up the 1
4. Evidence from map worksheet, document, and/or timeline 1
with citations in parentheses
5. Clear, well explained, and well supported answer 1
throughout the paragraph
Total: 5
 Name:
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Period:

Assignment #:

(PG. 447)
Setting the Stage
1. What two problems did Japan face in creating an empire?

Japan Seeks a Pacific Empire

2. What country did Japan invade and what was the result of that invasion?

The Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor

3. Who was Isoroku Yamamoto and what did he say about Pearl Harbor?

4. Complete the following chart about the attack on Pearl Harbor:

Ships sunk or damaged
Number of Americans killed
Number of Americans wounded
Date of the attack on Pearl Harbor

5. What did Congress declare the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

(PG. 448)
The Tide of Japanese Victories
6. On page 448, name all of the places the Japanese conquered.

7. How many miles of land and how many people did the Japanese conquer?

8. From the map on pg. 448, list all of the Japanese gains by 1942 (the areas in purple on
your map-just list those that are in bold type with capital letters).

The Allies Strike Back:

9. Fill in the blanks:
• After a string of victories, the Japanese ________________.
• In April 1942, the United States ________________________________________.

10. What did the U.S. do to get revenge?

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11. What important psychological point did the “Doolittle Raids” make?

The Allies Turn the Tide of the War:

12. Fill in the blank: In addition, Japan had won a vast empire that was becoming
___________________________________________.
13. What was the end result of the Battle of the Coral Sea?

The Battle of Midway:

14. Who was Chester Nimitz?

15. In the last paragraph of the section, explain the U.S. strategy during the Battle of
Midway.

16. Complete the chart:

Number of Japanese planes destroyed
Number of aircraft carriers destroyed
Number of support ships destroyed

17. Give the quote from one Japanese official after the Battle of Midway.

18. What was the end result of the Battle of Midway? (last sentence in the section)

(PG. 448-449)
The Allies go on the Offensive:
19. Who was Douglas MacArthur?

(PG. 449)
20. Explain MacArthur’s “island hopping” strategy.

21. Give MacArthur’s two quotes about his strategy.

22. How long did the Battle of Guadalcanal last and how many Japanese soldiers died?

23. Read the quote in the purple box about the Battle of Guadalcanal. Which of those things
mentioned freaks you out the most? Explain why.