Free, World War II Online Teacher Resource Launched on 70th Anniversary of V-E Day

National History Day (NHD) announced this morning the launch of phase one of a new, free teacher resource, abmceducation.org. The resource presents an interdisciplinary approach to the war in northern Europe and is a major educational initiative from the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).The first phase of this website, launched in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, features profiles on ABMC cemeteries in Northern Europe, and includes profiles of the 18 teachers who are part of this project. In July, these teachers will engage in a two-week institute in Great Britain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, following the path of the Allied troops who fought through northern Europe 70 years ago.

This resource will be expanded in November 2015 to include interdisciplinary teaching modules developed by the 18 interdisciplinary teachers selected to participate in the institute. Each lesson module will link to the story of a fallen hero – a member of the Armed Forces who died and is buried or memorialized in one of the six military cemeteries that the group will visit.

“National History Day is honored to coordinate with the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media to develop this engaging resource. This group of teachers has demonstrated extraordinary scholarship and research skills,” said NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “The website in development reflects original and insightful use of unique primary source documents, many of which are being re-imagined for classroom use. As we lose the WWII generation, these stories and lessons are designed to preserve the legacy of those who gave so much.”

This resource is being developed as part of a contract with ABMC’s domestic education program for World War II in Northern Europe, administered by NHD and the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. The purpose of this contract is to develop a Teacher Institute on the Teaching of World War II in Europe that will result in sound lesson plans and teaching ideas that utilize ABMC’s sites and resources.

Sign up to receive email updates when the full resource comes online at http://abmceducation.org/understandingsacrifice/subscribe-abmc.