A Series of Lessons on Paterson, New Jersey, WWII Heritage City

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

"Greetings from Paterson N.J.”

Photo credit: Library of Congress

Introduction

The three lessons, and culminating fourth lesson, support the development of understanding the significance of Paterson, New Jersey designated as an American World War II Heritage City. Highlights include defense industries, the heightened participation and increase in opportunities for women and African Americans in work during wartime, and civilian volunteerism. The lessons highlight specific contributions but connect to larger themes and understandings of the U.S. home front during wartime. A mix of primary and secondary sources are used, along with photos and media.

The standards listed beneath the lesson links are a collection of standards covered in the lesson collection. The lessons have been aligned to national standards and topics, as well as to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. 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):

African American Contributions on the Home Front in Paterson, New Jersey, WWII Heritage City

• African Americans in war industries, African Americans in service, Civil Rights movement, faith and community leaders

Women’s Contributions to the Home Front in Paterson, New Jersey, WWII Heritage City

• Women in war industries, Curtiss-Wright Aviation, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)

Children’s Home Front Volunteerism and Service in Paterson, New Jersey, World War II Heritage City

• Junior Red Cross, scrap and salvage drives, victory gardens, Jewish youth contributions, volunteerism

Paterson, New Jersey: 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 

National Standards

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 

New Jersey State Standards

New Jersey Student Learning Standards – Social Studies 

The lessons align to, and/or contribute to understandings of the following Standard 6.1 U.S. History Eras:  

Era 11 The Great Depression and World War II: World War II (1929–1945)  

Era 12 Postwar United States: Cold War (1945 to early 1970s)  

Era 13 Postwar United States: Civil Rights and Social Change (1945 to early 1970s) 

The lessons also align to: 

U.S. History 

SSUSH19 Examine the origins, major developments, and the domestic impact of World War II, including the growth of the federal government. 

d. Investigate the domestic impact of the war including war mobilization, as indicated by rationing, wartime conversion, and the role of women and African Americans or Blacks. 

For more resources, explore Teaching with Historic Places World War II Lesson. For more Heritage City Lessons, explore the World War II Heritage City Lesson Page.

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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.