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World History Project - Origins to the Present

Unit 7: Lesson 4

World War II | 7.3
Arts and humanities
World History Project - Origins to the Present
Era 7 - The Great Convergence and Divergence (1880 CE to the future)
World War II | 7.3
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: The Fallen of World War II

Google Classroom
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. What was the general profile up people who make up military deaths as opposed to civilian deaths?
  2. Where did the most Nazis die?
  3. What country lost the most casualties as a percentage of its population?
  4. Who lost the most soldiers and civilians in the war and why?
  5. Which side purposely targeted civilians during World War II? Give some examples?
  6. Was World War II the deadliest war in history?
  7. What does this video mean by “The Long Peace”?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. The video concludes that, since World War II, large conflicts have been less common and less deadly. How do you explain this trend?
  2. Do you think World War II was the most devastating event in world history? Why or why not?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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