Modern History: World War II, the Cold War, and the Twenty-First Century

This is part of a year-long social studies curriculum designed to be inclusive and support neurodiverse students including twice-exceptional students by providing leveled text, embedded graphics, dyslexia-friendly support, and explicit instruction on executive functioning including notetaking and study skills. This class meets two days a week and homework is provided for students to practice their developing skills for two additional days. Students will master social studies standards, build independent learning skills, and practice self-advocacy and self-regulation. 
This is the second quarter of the year in which students will finish their study of modern history with a global perspective that allows them to better understand patterns and connections across history including the impacts of colonialism and imperialism on modern events. This course also integrates art history and strategies like visual thinking in order to engage students and showcase the variety of ways we can learn culture and history through art as record keeping, archeology, and contemporary societies. It is also inquiry-based with a question of the day prompting students to reflect and providing an opportunity for analysis, inference, and academic writing. 
This course also allows students the chance to practice lecture-based learning skills needed for advanced academic opportunities in short bursts and is aligned with the content of standardized world history and western civilization exams. 
Week 1: 
- Classroom Norms and Structure
- Breakup of Ottoman Empire After World War I
- Division of Germany's Empire
- Post War Resistance to Colonization in Africa and Asia 
-Expansion of Liberty, Civil Rights, and Democracy Globally During Interwar Period
- Rise of Militarism in Japan and Expansion in the Pacific

Week 2:
- Hitler's Rise To Power and Nationalism in Italy and Germany
- Western Responses to German Aggression
- Early U.S "Neutrality Policies"
- Pearl Harbor
-World War II in Europe and Asia
- Battles of Stalingrad and Midway
- The Holocaust
- First Mini Project

Week 3: 
- Life on the Home Front
- Women and the War
- Science and World War II
- Yalta and Potsdam Agreements
- Atomic Bombings
- Reconstruction of Japan Post-War
-Section Summary

Week 4:
- Origins of the Cold War
- Truman Doctrine
- Western and Eastern Blocs
- NATO
- Chinese Revolution
- Great Leap Forward
- Korean War
- Indochina Wars

Week 5:
- Non- Aligned Movement
- Yugoslavia and India
-Bandung Conference
- Egypt and the Middle East
- Israeli-Arab Conflict in Middle East
- Tensions in Europe
-War on Communism in Latin America
- Decolonization and the Cold War

Week 6:
- Collapse of the Soviet Union
-Mid- Unit Essay

Week 7: 
- Globalization
- Trade Agreements
- Multinational Corporations
- Privatization
- Environmentalism
-Chernobyl
- Computer Revolution
- Arab Spring and Impact of Social Media on History

Week 8:
- Medical Advances and Challenges
-AIDS Epidemic
- Modern Nuclear Concerns
- War in Iraq
-Refugee Crisis 
- Human Rights Crisis
-Global North and Global South
-Final Project Planning

Week 9:
Student Led Project on what events from 2023 they think should be included in history books of the future connecting it to big ideas, frameworks, and events from our studies.