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# "The Great Crusade:" Ike and the Men of D-Day

Eisenhower National Historic Site

                      Grade Level:
High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade

                      - Subject:
                      - Social Studies
                      - Common Core Standards:
                      - 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.2, 9-10.RH.1, 9-10.RH.2, 9-10.RH.3, 6.SL.1, 6.SL.1.a, 9-10.SL.1, 9-10.SL.1.a, 9-10.SL.1.b, 9-10.SL.1.c
                      - State Standards:
                      - Grades 6-8  8.1.6-8. A & B  8.3.6-8 A, B, C, & D  8.4.6-8A, B, C & D  Grade 9  8.1.9.A & B  8.2.9.B  8.3.9.A, B, C  CC.8.5.6-8.A; CC.8.5.6-8.B; CC.8.5.6-8.D; CC.8.5.6-8.G; CC.8.5.6-8.J.   CC.8.5.9-10.A; CC.8.5.9-10.B; CC.8.5.9-10.C; CC.8.5.9-10.D; CC.8.5.9-10.I; C

Program Overview 
This program allows students to learn more about the 1944 Invasion of Normandy by exploring the lives of several men who took part in it, as well as the leadership of the man who orchestrated and commanded it, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. This program will explore multiple parts of General Eisenhower’s leadership in the D-Day invasion, as well as real stories of soldiers who were killed on D-Day and are now buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery. Pre and post-program activities will reinforce the lessons and will give students the opportunity to write their own “Order of the Day” to the men of D-Day and to gain further understanding of what General Eisenhower meant when he described the invasion as “the Great Crusade.”This program is offered both virtually and as a site visit to the Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Theme
The D-Day Invasion, a turning point in World War II, was made possible by the engaging leadership of Dwight D. Eisenhower and especially by the sacrifices of ordinary soldiers who embodied “the Great Crusade” of which Eisenhower spoke in his “Order of the Day.”
Essential Questions
General Eisenhower wrote of a “Great Crusade” in his pre-invasion “Order of the Day.” What did he mean?What role did General Eisenhower’s leadership play in the success of the D-Day invasion?What can we learn about sacrifice and service from those who fought on D-Day?What qualities are essential to being a good leader, and in what ways can we be leaders in our communities today?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
-  Define at least three of Eisenhower’s leadership qualities. 
-  Analyze the experience of the American soldier at D-Day. 
-  Examine the cost of war by discovering the story of at least one of the soldiers who died on D-Day. 
-  Contextualize and explain the importance of D-Day for 20th Century American history and World history. 
Grade Level:
6-12
Class Size:
10-50
Program Length:
Virtual Program: 30-60 MinutesOn-site Program: 120 minutes (Program length is dependent on the size of the group, timely arrival on-site, and staffing).
Contact Us:
For more information on this program, including how to schedule, e-mail us

### Materials

Download Ike and the Men of D-Day Lesson Plan

Download Activity A: D-Day Overview Reading

Download Activity B: D-Day Key Terms

Download Activity C: What is Leadership?

Download Activity D: Order of the Day

Download Activity E: D-Day Soldiers in the Gettysburg National Cemetery

Download Activity F: D-Day Soldiers Background Information

Download PFC Alfred Augustine

Download PFC Byron Stanton

Download PFC Forrest Rice

Download PFC Frank J. Kvasnosky

Download PFC George A. Hawn

Download Pvt. Clairus Riggs

Download Pvt. Howard Nutt

Download Pvt. Richard Brandtonies

Download Pvt. Elmer Warman

Download Staff Sgt. William Laffin

Download Tec5 Joseph Fedish

Download Tec5 William Copeland

**Tags: **wwiid-daygeneral eisenhower20th century historyprimary source analysisprimary source documents

## Lesson Plans

Last updated: April 23, 2024

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