COURSE CONTENT: 
By 26 May 1940, the Allied forces were pushed back to the French coastline. Evacuation efforts under the codename "Operation Dynamo" tried to bring the Allies back across the English Channel and land them safely on English soil. Nazi aircraft patrolled the skies while their submarines prowled beneath the water's surface. Evacuation was dangerous, but their need was dire. This is the story of Dunkirk. 

This class will review Christopher Nolan's 2017 film "Dunkirk", we will talk about the history surrounding the events at Dunkirk, (particularly, the outbreak of the war, the beginning engagements, and how the situation at Dunkirk was created), the people who were involved, and the impact of this evacuation on World War II. In class, there will be a lecture on the history of this period with an accompanying powerpoint. The powerpoinnt may include period newsclips, photographs, maps, and charts of events and people discussed in the lecture. We will also play kahoot trivia games, and engage in discussion. Learners are encouraged but not required to take notes. Questions are highly encouraged and may be asked during class sessions or posted to the classroom page. 

LEARNER EXPECTATIONS: 
Enrolled learners are expected to remain on camera for the duration of live class sessions. This is to ensure learner security and engagement. Learners who fail to appear on camera during live sessions may be withdrawn from the course without a refund. Similarly, enrolled learners are expected to attend the live sessions, not just watch the recording. (*If your learner is the only learner enrolled in the section, and they do not attend class, a recording will not be made available.*) I expect learners enrolled in the live session to attend each class and remain on camera for the duration of class. Learners who fail to show up for 2 of the scheduled classes will be withdrawn from the course without a refund. Enrolling in this course implies consent and willingness to appear on camera for the duration of classes.

COURSE SCHEDULE: 
Class 01: The Outbreak of the War: 
This first class will look at the opening engagements of the war, beginning with the Nazi and Soviet occupation of Poland. We will see the major personalities involved in these engagements, and examine how and why the nations of France and Britain became militarily involved in the conflict. 

Class 02: The French and British Homefronts: 
This class will look at the political climates of France and Britain at the beginning of the war. We will look at the main politicians and political parties leading the government, and how they changed through the beginning of the war. (Ex: Winston Churchill becoming PM, and the establishment of Vichy France after the siege of Paris.) We will also look at the experiences of French and British civilians during the beginning of the war. 

Class 03: Dunkirk: 
This final class will look at how events in the war led to the allies needing to be evacuated from Europe. We will look at the French and British generals leading the evacuation, and the soldiers who tried to keep the Nazi forces at bay while their comrades evacuated. We will look at the successes and failures of Operation Dynamo and what this event meant for the Allies. 

This course is designed as an AP course. We will be diving into greater detail about this event in World War II. It is strongly encouraged that learners be familiar with the war and world history before enrolling in this course. (Ideally, High School aged learners will enroll. Learners under 13 years old will not be permitted to enroll in this course.) 

Learners will need to watch Christopher Nolan's film PRIOR to attending the first class. We will be referencing events and characters in the film and learners will need to have watched the film in order to participate in class. Learners are responsible for purchasing and watching the film. Access to the film will not be provided by the instructor.