A Series of Lessons on Waterloo, Iowa, WWII Heritage City

Aerial photo of John Deere Company factory in Waterloo, Iowa, directly after World War II, approximately 1950.

Courtesy of the Grout Museum District, Waterloo, Iowa

Introduction

The three lessons, and culminating fourth lesson, support the development of understanding the significance of Waterloo, Iowa designated as an American World War II Heritage City. Highlights include defense industries and the increased opportunities for women in work during wartime and women in service. One lesson shares about the home front impacts of the service and sacrifice of the local Sullivan brothers. 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 Iowa Social Studies and literacy standards. 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):

War Manufacturing in Waterloo, Iowa, World War II Heritage City

• War industries, manufacturing, John Deere Company, Rath Packing Company, Women workers, African Americans

Home Front Experiences and Contributions by Women in Service in Waterloo, Iowa, World War II Heritage City

• Women in the armed forces, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), WAVES, US Cadet Nurse Corps

The Sullivan Brothers’ Legacy and impact on the Home Front in Waterloo, Iowa, World War II Heritage City

• Sullivan Brothers, armed services, home front contributions and morale, local history preservation

Waterloo, Iowa: 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

Iowa Social Studies Standards 

The lessons align to and/or contribute to understandings of the Inquiry Standards across grade levels, along with the Reading and Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12.

The lessons also align to the following content standards: 

U.S. History

SS-US.9-12.14. Evaluate the impact of gender roles on economic, political, and social life in the U.S.

S-US.9-12.18. Analyze the effects of urbanization, segregation, and voluntary and forced migration within regions of the U.S. on social, political, and economic structures

SS-US.9-12.20. Analyze the growth of and challenges to U.S. involvement in the world in the post-World War II era.

SS-US.9-12.21. Analyze change, continuity and context across eras and places of study from civil war to modern America.

SS-US.9-12.26. Determine multiple and complex causes and effects of historical events in American history including, but not limited to, the Civil War, World War I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Want More World War II Resources?

Connect with lessons from other World War II Heritage Cities or more general place-based World War II Lessons.
These lessons and resources from across US History are part of Teaching with Historic Places. 
 

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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.