Molloy College

Education Department
Lesson Plan
Student: Kelly Westerman
Course: EDU 521
Grade: 11
Topic: World War II: D Day

Professor: Professor Esposito

Date: November 23rd, 2015
Content Areas: History

Instructional Objectives
After viewing clips and class discussion of D Day, students will write a paper describing
this battle was one of the most influential turning points of World War II.
CCLS/ +NYS Standards and Indicators
Social Studies (NYS) Standard #1: History of the United States and New York
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding
of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of
the United States and New York.
Indicator
o This will be evident through the essay students will write, in which they
will describe D Day as a major turning point in World War II and how
America was involved in it.
Social Studies (NYS) Standard #2: World History
Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding
of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history
and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.
Indicator
o This will be evident when students are asked to explain why D Day is one
of the most influential and famous battles in History. D Day involved
many different countries, and it is an important part of the turning point of
World War II.
Motivator
Students will watch the opening scene of the film Saving Private Ryan, which depicts
the storming of the beaches of Normandy at D Day.
Materials
Lecture
Notebooks
Textbook
Pens
Computer
iPad


Video

Projector
Visualizer
PowerPoint
DVD of Saving Private Ryan

Strategies
Direct Instruction: Students will be guided by the teacher through lectures on the topic.
Do Now: Students will identify important terms associated with Pearl Harbor in the
beginning of class to help introduce the topic and refresh their memory from the day
before.
Group Discussion: Students will break off into groups of three to discuss important
events that were caused by Pearl Harbor.
Read Aloud: Students will read aloud sentences from the textbook to the class.

Adaptations
A copy of the PowerPoint presentations will be provided for more visual learners.
Links will be provided to clips that are viewed in class.

Differentiation of Instruction
Level 1: Students will give a description of the events of the battle with the help of the
textbook. Answers will be written down on an index card.
Level 2: Students will be given a timeline of events, and they must place them in
chronological order.
Level 3: Students will give a detailed description of what occurred at D Day, and be able
to describe the events in paragraph form.
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

Developmental Procedures
Students will complete a Do-Now, in which they will identify important facts
about the battle. What countries were involved in the storming of the beaches?
When did it occur? What was the goal of the battle? Why were there so many
causalities?
The class will watch a clip of the battle of D Day portrayed through the film
Saving Private Ryan. Why were the soldiers so nervous? How does the film
portray the battle? How do they feel after watching the clip?
Students will listen to a lecture given by the teacher, who will give detailed
descriptions of what took place.
Students will be asked to complete a handout about D Day. Why was the battle so
important? Was there another way to attack without the strong lose of life?
Finally, groups will share their answers with the rest of the class, leaving a little
time for general questions from the teacher.

Assessment
Students will complete a handout on D Day and complete it at the end of the class.

Independent Practice
In preparation for tomorrows class, students will be asked to answer questions from the
chapter on D Day in the textbook.
Follow Up: Direct Teacher Intervention
Students that did not perform well on the assessment will be required to attend a review
session to be held after school to go over what they did not understand about the lesson.
Follow Up: Academic Enrichment
Students will write a diary entry as a solider that survived the battle on D Day describing
what he experienced that day.

Teacher References
Berkin, C., Miller, C.L., Cherny, R.W., Gormily, J.L., Egerton, D., Woestman, K. (2014) Making
America: A history of the United States (6th ed.) Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
D Day. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/world-warii/d-day
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1998). Saving Private Ryan [Motion picture on DVD]. New Video.