A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

World War

Spies, Lies, and Disguise

By 2 Comments

HA!  I like this one.  The word in the Write 31 days challenge is avoid.  My book is Spies, Lies and Disguise.  What do spies want to avoid having done to them?   Being captured!   Today we get to learn how spies worked to avoid being captured in World War Two. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise review

Spies, Lies, and Disguise: The Daring Tricks and deeds that won World War II.
Jennifer Swanson.
Kevin O’Malley (illustrator).
Bloomsbury Press
160 pages, 9-12 years, grade 5-8.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

World War Two, history, spies, disguise, military, Europe,

In the late 1930s, times were desperate. The world found itself at war again, less than twenty years after the first World War had ended. No one could quite believe it. And no one wanted it. The leaders of every country involved were left with no choice. They had to try to end the war as fast as possible, using whatever means they could.

That meant coming up with secret operations meant to deceive, deflect, and confuse their enemies. …… These were all real tactics attempted with the ultimate goal of defeating Hitler. In this off-center look at history, readers will be captivated by the classified and covert efforts made by each side as they tried to gain the upper hand and win the war. Restricted access is lifted to give the reader a peek into the top secret operations of the daring men and women who fought the war under a cloak of secrecy.

Spies, Lies and Disguise

The Details of Spies, Lies, and Disguise

What a fun read.  I know, might not sound like a fun read but I thought it was GREAT.  Not fun as in ha ha joke, but fun because I learned so much!  It was also written in an “invite you in style”.  Not a dry read but quick moving, draw you in, causing you want to know what job comes next. 

Spies, Lies, and Disguise

Each chapter started with a wanted poster. Stating what sort of people were wanted, and then an intriguing title.  Like seriously…wouldn’t you want to know what type of spy a night witch would be?

Spies, Lies and disguise

We are then walked into a scenario, the need for smart people with a particular skill set.    Actual case scenarios are explained and laid out.  This one made me laugh.  The idea that skipping stones could be a useful skill and then discovering that indeed it was!  I was so surprised that I blurted out “it worked!  Skipping bombs worked!”  This of course got my lad’s interest so over he came where I showed him the picture of how the bombs were used.  He was suitably impressed but demanded I don’t tell him anything more so he could read this book on his own.   No spoilers allowed.

spies, lies and disguise

Many of the chapters closed with a short vignette of a helpful spy or a helpful science scoop that directly connected with the chapter.  Occasionally images would be included like this one of the boats.

spies, lies and disguise

Recommendation

If you have any interest in being a spy, in covert activities, code-making, or world war 2… get Spies, Lies, and Disguise.  It is a fascinating look into the world of being a spy.  Whether it be as a look out, or to set a misleading trail, spies were busy confounding the enemy.   It’s approachable style makes it an easy read, with nothing too complicated to understand.   

Some day I will teach (I hope) from this book  in a co-op class.  I think it would a hoot to engage teenagers in how they could do the work of a spy themselves and avoid being captured in the process. 

avoid
disclosure

Survivors of the Holocaust

By 2 Comments

You know how my son and I will be studying World War 2 this year?  Breaking it down over two semesters to make for two history credits.  Means lots of in-depth work. My son likes to dig deeply into topics.   Survivors of the Holocaust I think will make a good addition to our studies.   Six stories, six children, affected by the war. Six children facing devastation because they were Jewish.   Not an easy read, but a necessary one yes?

Survivors of the holocaust review

What I am Reviewing

Survivors of the Holocaust: true stories of six extraordinary children.
Kath Shackleton (editor)
Zane Whittingham.
Sourcebooks
Reviewed for Raincoast books.
Trade paperback, 96 pages, grades 3-7, ages 10-14
History, holocaust, Jewish, biography, historical biography, middle school, World War 2, WWII, graphic, comics, true life

This extraordinary graphic novel tells the true stories of six Jewish children and young people who survived the Holocaust. From suffering the horrors of Auschwitz, to hiding from Nazi soldiers in war-torn Paris, to sheltering from the Blitz in England, each true story is a powerful testament to the survivors’ courage. These remarkable testimonials serve as a reminder never to allow such a tragedy to happen again.

Survivors of the holocaust contents

Details of Survivors of the Holocaust

Six people make up the stories in this true life tome.  Six children, families torn apart in Hitler’s world during the war.  Children from Nuremberg, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland, Paris and in the area between Poland and Germany called the Polenaktion.   Some with their families, and some without.  Children with hard memories stored, and some needing help to remember this terrible time. 

Survivors of the holocaust

Told in a graphic novel format we are given the highlights of their difficult time.  Tidbits of the good in people were included, like the kindertransport where Jewish children were taken to safety in Britain, or the kindness of a lady pretending a child was her daughter.  Things that mattered, events I want to know more about. 

Survivors of the holocaust

I found each section easy to tell apart as the main colours used changed with each individual. The typeset was a good size and easy to read (always a concern for me with graphic books). 

I absolutely adored that we were left with the children in difficult straits.  At the close of the book we were given an update into their lives.  They went on to live full lives, though some still search for their lost families. 

Survivors of the holocaust

Thoughts/Recommendations

Oh, if you have any interest in the war, get this book.  Help your children see what other children went through.   Six year olds, 13 year olds.  Children suffered under Hitler’s regime.   Use it as a springboard if you need to help them understand that children continue to suffer today.  Not just for being Jewish, but for being the wrong gender, faith, colour, creed or whatever.  Help them to see their potential to step up and help.   But mostly, just let them learn the world’s history.  Help them learn it well so we don’t repeat it.  We mustn’t let this happen again.

disclaimer

Torpedoed

By 4 Comments

I thought when I read the synopsis of this book, that I would learn a bit of history wrapped up in story form.  And I did.  Torpedoed brought me into the lives of a number of children.  Their dreams and friendships, their family lives, and their personalities.  Not only that, I learned about the German side of the equation as well. Let me share this amazing review, telling a spot of the war that I didn’t know before, with you eh?

Torpedoed

What I am Reviewing

Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of ‘The Children’s Ship’
Deborah Heiligman
Henry Holt and Company Books for Young Readers
340 pages, ages 10-14
Received: Advanced Reader’s Copy
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Middle School, World War II, War, Ships, Rescue, Torpedo, Military, WW2, WWII, History, Boats, Europe, Survival,

Amid the constant rain of German bombs and the escalating violence of World War II, British parents by the thousands chose to send their children out of the country: the wealthy, independently; the poor, through a government relocation program called CORB. In September 1940, passenger liner SS City of Benares set sail for Canada with one hundred children on board.
When the war ships escorting the Benares departed, a German submarine torpedoed what became known as the Children’s Ship. Out of tragedy, ordinary people became heroes. This is their story.

Torpedoed

The Details about Torpedoed

29 chapters over 304 pages, along with end notes, survivor and death lists and other information.   But this doesn’t tell the full story.   We follow the lives of several children before, during and after the torpedo attack.  Some of those children survive and others do not. 

Torpedoed

This story is told with sensitivity, acknowledging the pain of the families who lost loved ones. Not only that, it acknowledged the pain the operator of the U-boat felt when he learned children were on-board that vessel. 

We are particularly brought into the lives of the CORB children. CORB stands for Children Overseas Reception Board.  These were British children sent to live with relatives in the dominions and United States.  We followed families, brothers and sisters, and individual children.  For some children this was their second attempt to head for safety. 

Torpedoed

I absolutely loved the simple line drawings.  Those black and white pencil sketches fit the nature of this tome so perfectly. 

Torpedoed

Scattered throughout were photos, telegrams, dispatches and the like.  Actual letters and photos from the day.   The author used remembered words and phrases as much as possible.  This story is as true as she can make it be.   Actual accounts as much as can be remembered by survivors and their families.

Torpedoed

My Thoughts/Recommendation

Initially this was a story about details.  Details about families and reasons for choosing to send their children away to safety.  It was a story about the escalation in Germany’s determination to break the British.  Then it changed, it became a story about children with hopes and dreams.  Children sad to be away from their parents.  We learned of children delighted to have a whole ship to explore. 

Then it became a story of decisions.  Of boys turning into men right before my eyes.  Of young ladies showing grit and determination, and suddenly it was a book I needed to finish.  I needed to know if my boy Colin would survive… so I kept reading and my boys listened to my “No, no, no’s”.   

Read, be wrapped up in lives, be saddened, and be hopeful.  Be filled with joy at the ones who were rescued.  Realize the horror of those lost.

This too was part of the war.  Hard for people on both sides. Devastating for families, a heart cry for a nation. Torpedoed is a book worth reading. 

Propaganda of World War 1

By 8 Comments

My son has been LOVING doing research papers.  He’s just finished a rather significant one of poison gas, and as he finished he asked “what’s next mom?”  I mentioned we hadn’t talked about propaganda and how it was handled during the war and he was immediately intrigued.   Since it was our research week we set to. 

propaganda in world war 1

First we Watched Videos

Three types of propaganda

  1. Homefront – for people at home
  2. Front – to increase morale among your troops andweaken it in the enemy
  3. Foreign  – to counter the propaganda of the enemy

Censorship and propaganda often went hand in hand.

It was thought that film could easily be used as a method of propaganda even though it was still fairly new.  But it was very difficult to get film of war battles.  They needed permission, subject to censorship, hard to carry and set up, and light sensitive (most battles happened at night). 

Posters were most often directed at men with national emblems surrounding a healthy modern Canadian man.  Shaming posters were also used.  

We enjoyed the sheer variety in the posters. From the Victory Bond posters, to the enlist now. The different units like the Canadian Irish Rangers. We noted that some WW2 posters were slipped in as well.

You want to show the enemy as beatable, and yet you also want to show him as formidable.   Finding that balance was often difficult. 

Then we took to the books

He read selections from these books.

My goal was to have him research one of the foci of propaganda and then do up a poster showing what he learned.   He wants to do this BUT he also wants to write a paper.  I imagine it will take him two weeks to be happy with his research and the paper he comes up with. In the meantime I will learn lots about wartime propaganda! 🙂

Others in this Series

Poison Gas in World War 1

By 7 Comments

Did you know that France was actually the first company to use poison gas in World War 1? I didn’t either. Learn more amazing facts in the video below.

Welcome to Our study of Poison Gas of World War 1.

poison Gas of world war 1

My son has been longing to tackle this topic but I deliberately held it off until the nicer weather. I’ve been imagining my son wanting to make smoke bombs and what not to test wind patterns. Nice weather makes that a whole lot easier to do eh? 🙂

BUT on to our study. We watched a number of videos. 🙂

Types of gas used

  • tear gas – not truly dangerous, more of a nuisance
  • chlorine gas – burning eyes, nose, mouth
  • phosgene gas, sometimes mixed with chlorine gas killed 85% of all gases used.
  • mustard gas – the most painful of all gases

Learning about Chlorine gas

Phosgene gas. 85% of all people who died from Chemical warfare died from this gas. Freshly mown gas smell. 80,000 people.

Mustard Gas. Though in this video the creator was wrong in stating that the Germans started the poison gas attacks. They did grab onto the idea rather firmly though. Mustard gas was named for its yellow-brown colour and mustard smell. It was a nasty gas which didn’t dissipate easily and would sink to lower levels and stuck around for years. Exposure to skin contact leads to blistering and burns. It could be very disfiguring.

Learning about the disfigurement of mustard gas led us to learn about Anna Coleman Watts/Ladd and her work making masks for these poor soldiers.

Videos My Son Picked:

This only the first half of this video is on poison gas.

The history of Fritz Haber. Haber was a Jewish German Chemist who thought that chemical warfare would end the war more quickly. Even though it didn’t. He never apologized for his work or actions. As a Jew he was later unwelcome in Hitler’s Germany. He died in Switzerland from a heart attack. He found himself unwelcome in many places due to his work in chemical warfare.

Small box Respirator. This video led us to learn more about the small box respirator through the Canadian War Museum. I think, Lieutenant Dockar, a Canadian, wrote this article. We learned a good bit reading that article. Close up’s of the SBR can be found here.

Reading

The lad did some reading from various books and downloaded product.

Other posts about world  war one

Model Airplanes, Progress

By 5 Comments

Do you remember we’ve been studying the airplanes of world war 1? We each had planes we were interested in. My son found eindecker a curious plane, and I liked a few different ones. I asked the lad if he would like make an airplane model if we could find one. The answer came swiftly….YES!

Model Airplanes, progress

We were in London the other day and stopped in at AVF Hobbies. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot as I’ve been looking on-line for WW1 airplane models without a lot of success. My first perusal of the store met my expectations, but then I discovered their backroom and guess what!

They had TWO planes for world war one and lucky lucky lad.. they had the Eindecker! They also had a Sopwith Camel.

And herein this post you can see the difference between the lad and myself. With him, the careful reading of instructions along with “mom, isn’t that a good idea?” and me… “well, in instructions don’t say that so I should probably just go ahead” instead of listening to reason.

Sometimes I just want to rush ahead you know? My planner lad never does that. 🙂

He is taking the time to follow the instructions “Paint first, build second”. The painting takes a while to do, but he’ll get good coverage of the plastic.

Admittedly, we have old paint as well.. I have yet to buy curriculum for next year! New model plane paint isn’t in my budget. But the paint we have will do, we just need to work with it a bit.

Model Airplanes, progress

I decided to leap right in! Painting after you have a model together is a fair bit trickier I have learned. It will help me continue to develop my patience and help me listen better to my son for next time. 🙂

Model Airplanes, progress

I am pleased with the progress that we are making. It will probably be a month before we are finished. It takes time to let paint dry and to find the time we want in the evening. It’s a fun time together painting, talking, and helping each other out.

Airplanes of World War 1

By 10 Comments

The air force was still in it’s infancy during world war one. There was still so much to learn and do. War is a good motivators. Let’s look into the Airplanes of World War 1

Airplanes of World War 1

Videos Watched

My son loves the great war channel so of course we started here. Airplanes were quite basic, but more effective aircraft were being developed.

This video introduced us to many planes and individuals. We followed up with a few of them. Those we didn’t are The Red Baron, the Sopwith Camel, the Vickers Biplane 1, Mick Mannock, .

Ansaldo (Italian plane) the best observation plane.

Which led us to this video listing the top aircraft of WW1

Handley Page was another important plane in the war. That led us on a round about search of ww1 airplanes which led us to this video.

Eindecker – machine gun synchronized to the propellor. About the five minute mark it starts to talk about the airplanes.

Ernest Udet was a German Flying Ace. We were looking for more information on him and only found long documentaries. This one intrigued us though with it’s talk of chivalry in the air.

Billy Bishop, a flying ace from Canada! William Avery Bishop, was a non-scholar who was good at shooting. His marksmanship was his saving grace. Was part of number 60 squadron.

The title of this video intrigued the lad who has an interest in physics. Airplanes plus physics… a total win!

This one popped up in my feed and was actually interesting to watch.

We learned a bit more about the triplane which was used by the Red Baron. It was neat to see the recreation of The Red Baron’s flying unit. The planes looked very neat in the air.

Reading Material

We found this fascinating website called the Military Factory. It lists the planes by name and year, and when you click on the image takes you to another pages with stats and a write up. We actually used this site to find names of airplanes and then look up videos on them. Like this Curtiss H16

Ducksters taught us what the planes were, how they were used, and what their different markings meant.

History hit told us about 12 aircraft from the war. 12 important aircraft from the First World War, including bombers, fighters and reconnaissance planes.

Ranker lists the best of the world war one airplanes. The start of the world was with clunkers and ended with powerful bombers.

1600 airmen died in the World War 1 from Canada, Veterans Affairs talked about the brilliance of Canadian airmen in the war.

My son’s project

A friend of the family gave the lad an airplane model to put together for WW2, so we thought it would be neat to have an airplane of ww1 as well. We hope to stop at a model shop and get one for him to do.

Other posts about world  war one