Leaders of World War II

Students will create a spider map that represents four leaders of World War II. For each individual selected, students should include the following four aspects of their leader’s life.

1. Life Before the War
2. Rise To Power
3. Role During World War II
4. Life After World War II

For each of the four aspects, students are required to create a visual representation that reflects that period in their life. Students are also required to include a written description below each visualization. Students may summarize the events or include a primary source directly from the leader.

Possible WWII Leaders to Research

• Hitler
• Stalin
• Mussolini
• Churchill
• FDR
• President Truman
• General Patton
• General Montgomery
• Hirohito
• Charles De Gaulle

Possible Notable WWII Veterans

• JFK
• Ted Williams
• Jimmy Stewart
• Arthur C. Clarke

For this extended activity, students will research the full life of one of their researched World War II leaders. Students will use a timeline for this activity that reflects the leader’s childhood, events that lead to their achievement of power, their wartime actions, and if possible the life after the war.

Student Instructions

Create a spider map that examines a leader in World War II, their rise to power, and their actions during the war.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. In the middle of the frayer model, enter the name of your chosen leader.
3. Label each title with "Life Before the War", "Rise to Power", "Role During World War II", and "Life After World War II".
4. Write a summary for each aspect of their life in the description box.
5. Create an illustration for each using appropriate scenes, characters, items, or photos from Photos for Class.