A Series of Lessons on Pascagoula, Mississippi, WWII Heritage City

A series of Teaching with Historic Places lessons from the World War II Heritage Cities Lesson Collection.

"Shipbuilding at Historic Pascagoula: On the banks of the famous Pascagoula River, known as the 'Singing River' of Indian legend fame, and near the Gulf of Mexico is located the great plant of the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation. Here, were built America's first all-welded ocean-going ships.

Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 1950

Introduction

The three lessons, and culminating fourth lesson, support the development of understanding the significance of Pascagoula, Mississippi designated as an American World War II Heritage City. Highlights include contributions to the wartime industry and workforce, such as with the large presence of the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, and volunteerism and contributions made by many civilians and service members. The lessons highlight specific contributions but connect to larger themes and understandings of the U.S. home front during wartime.

The standards listed beneath the lesson links are a collection of standards covered in the lesson collection. Objectives for each lesson, materials, and resources are listed within the lesson.

The first three lessons listed can be taught individually or collectively, in any order. The final lesson is to support students in combining learning across the three lessons, and/or comparison to other World War II home front cities in a culminating activity.

Lessons (with World War II home front topics):

Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Workforce and Labor relations in Pascagoula, Mississippi, World War II Heritage City

• War manufacturing, labor relations, union, home front workforce

Civilian Volunteerism and Contributions to the Home front in Pascagoula, Mississippi, World War II Heritage City

• Junior American Red Cross, victory gardens, war funds and bonds, civilian home front efforts, service member recreational center

Civilian Defense and Volunteer Contributions in Pascagoula, Mississippi, World War II Heritage City

• Citizens defense corps, civilian contributions, air raids and safety, women’s service recruitment, harbor patrol

Pascagoula, Mississippi: Comparing and Connecting WWII Home Front cities

Positioning these Lessons in the Curriculum:

Time period: World War II 

Topics: World War II, women’s history, African American history, workforce migration, science and technology 

United States History Standards for Grades 5-12 

This lesson relates to the following National Standards for History from the UCLA National Center for History in the Schools: 

• Era 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945) 
• Standard 3: The causes and course of World War II, the character of the war at home and abroad, and its reshaping of the U.S. role in world affairs 

Curriculum Standards for Social Studies 

This lesson relates to the following Curriculum Standards themes for Social Studies from the National Council for the Social Studies: 

• Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change 
• Theme 5: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions  
• Theme 8: Science, Technology, and Society 
• Theme 9: Global Connections 

Relevant Common Core Standards  

These lessons relates to the following Common Core English and Language Arts Standards for History and Social Studies for middle and high school students: 

Key Ideas and Details 

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.1 
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY. RH. 6-12.2 

Craft and Structure 

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.4 

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.7 
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-12.9 

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH. 6-12.10 
   

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The lesson series was written by Sarah Nestor Lane, an educator and consultant with the Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, funded by the National Council on Public History's cooperative agreement with the National Park Service.