World War II Websites and Videos for Students
Looking for World War II websites and videos to share with your students? If so, this is the list for you. It is a roundup of engaging and informative websites and videos for students all about World War II.
Kids have access to see, listen to, and read about more than ever before. We can leverage that to our advantage! When we partner with students as they explore the digital realm of the world, we can provide the guidance and tools they need to learn to safely navigate it. You can read more about using websites and videos in the classroom here.
If you’re ready to dive into this list of websites and videos, you can click through the navigation below or keep scrolling. Click on the images to access the resources listed. Be sure to preview all resources to determine age-appropriateness before sharing them with your students.
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Videos
Ted-ED’s “How did Hitler rise to power?”
“Decades after the fall of the Third Reich, it feels impossible to understand how Adolf Hitler, the tyrant who orchestrated one of the largest genocides in human history, could ever have risen to power in a democratic country. So how did it happen, and could it happen again? Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard dive into the history and circumstances that allowed Hitler to become Führer of Germany.”
Ted-ED’s “From pacifist to spy: WWII’s surprising secret agent”
“In May 1940, with the German army ready to occupy Paris, Noor Inayat Khan was faced with a difficult choice: stand on the sidelines or join the Allied forces fighting the Nazis. After witnessing the devastation across Europe, she travelled to England to learn the art of espionage. Shrabani Basu details how a pacifist turned spy helped build the resistance that toppled a fascist regime.”
Ted-ED’s “The Akune brothers: Siblings on opposite sides of the war”
“There are many stories that can be told about World War II, from the tragic to the inspiring. But perhaps one of the most heart-rending experiences was that of the Akune family, divided by the war against each other, and against their own identities. Wendell Oshiro tells the surprising story of this family split apart by war.”
Scholastic’s “Beyond the Story: American Women During World War II”
“This powerful nonfiction video explores the role of American women during World War II.”
Ted-ED’s “Ugly History: Japanese American incarceration camps”
“Dig into the historic injustice of Japanese American incarceration camps, also known as internment camps, during World War II. -- On December 7, 1941, 16 year-old Aki Kurose shared in the horror of millions of Americans when Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. Unbeknownst to her, this shared experience would soon leave her family and over 120,000 Japanese Americans alienated from their country, both socially and physically. Densho explores the racism and paranoia that led to the unjust internment of Japanese Americans.”
IWM’s Family Missions
Many interactive quizzes and activities from this collection of “family missions” could be used In the classroom. Do note that there is a mix of World War I and World War II resources.
IWM’s Adventures in History Series
This fun collection of weekly videos features a mix of World War I and World War II information. Students can “tune in every Wednesday to watch IWM experts telling their favourite stories that you won’t have heard in the classroom.”
The National World War II Museum’s Video Library
Don’t miss the museum’s section of free World War II related STEM lessons!
Maps
American Battle Monuments Commission’s “World War II Timeline Experience”
This interactive feature can be viewed as a map or chart. Students can toggle through dates to view images and descriptions of key battle moments.
Interactive Features & More
American Battle Monuments Commission’s “Research a Fallen Hero” activity
“Many times war is taught from a top-down, military perspective. This resource will help you and your students uncover the personal lives and stories of everyday American service members who fought and died. Your guide on this journey is Kevin Wagner and his students. Join them as they uncover the life of Charles Leinbach, a Lieutenant Colonel from Pennsylvania who fought in World War II.
Charles Leinbach’s story is just one of thousands of World War II stories from the Pacific Theater that have been lost to American memory over time. More than 12 million men and women served our nation during the war with approximately 73% serving overseas for an average of 16 months. Their personal stories help put a human face on the war effort from 1941 to 1945.
At the end of the process, your students will be able to
Identify and analyze primary source documents for key pieces of information in developing a soldier's personal story;
Evaluate the credibility of source materials for historical research; and
Contextualize a period of time through multiple perspectives.”
The National Archives’ World War II interactive feature
IMPORTANT NOTE: This feature formerly required an Adobe Flash plug-in that is no longer functioning. For this reason, the interactive parts of this resource no longer work, but it has been archived so many parts may still be used.
“Learn about the Second World War by using our animated maps and investigations containing original documents, film, photographs
and audio. Choose a theatre of war from the globe or quick links. Alternatively, go to the Index of Resources for the full contents of the site.”
The World Holocaust Remembrance Center’s Interactive Holocaust Timeline
“The "What Is the Holocaust?" timeline features a schematic outline of the progression of the Holocaust, accompanied by videos, which can be presented in the classroom or assigned to students along with guiding questions.”
The World Holocaust Remembrance Center’s Artifacts Collection
““n this section we focus on artifacts, presented courtesy of the Artifacts Retrieval Department, that can inform us about a specific part of the Holocaust period. These items, which are part of the Yad Vashem collection, are unique: they characterize events that occurred during the Holocaust, and hold emotional value as well. The story of these artifacts is accompanied by points of reference and discussion to be used with students. This page will be updated regularly as the staff at the International School for Holocaust Studies prepares more articles.”
