PHP Launches The Story of World War II on Guam Program

PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS LAUNCHES

THE “STORY OF WORLD WAR II ON GUAM” PROGRAM

By Jaclyn Balajadia, Education Manager

For the past ten years, Pacific Historic Parks has offered free funding to transport students and teachers in schools on a field trip to visit their national park on the island of Guam. With new social distancing guidelines and the temporary closure of War in the Pacific National Historical Park in March 2020, field trips were no longer an option for youths and educators on the island.

Pacific Historic Parks remained steadfast and committed to its mission of perpetuating the memory of events and to honor the people involved in Pacific historic locations by producing the “Story of World War II on Guam” program, a new educational and interpretive program consisting of mixed learning modules with hard copy books and the use of a virtual online platform.

A 20-page children’s activity book titled, “The Story of World War II in Guam Color and Learn Book” was produced and printed. Designed for 4th grade students, it featured the unique experiences of the people of Guam during the war. The book chronicled what happened on the island during World War II, beginning with the Japanese attack of the island in December 1941. The lives of the indigenous people – the CHamorus – were changed forever when Japanese forces took control of the island. Two and a half years later, a battle for Guam ensued between American and Japanese soldiers, with CHamoru people caught in the middle.

An education expert developed a standards-based digital curriculum companion for teachers and parents to draw out important themes in the coloring book. These new educational materials were distributed to teachers in the Spring of 2021, who were excited to use the new resources. Mrs. Mikki Pazman, a teacher from Talofofo Elementary School, said “I absolutely loved this book and lesson plan curriculum. I feel all fourth graders should be able to use this book while learning about WWII. It gave just the right amount of information to the students on their reading level." The curriculum companion included activities that coordinated with specific sections of the coloring book. The curriculum consisted of a lesson plan for teachers and ready-made worksheets, or appendixes, for students. The curriculum was electronically provided to teachers.

Pacific Historic Parks then organized and hosted two virtual story hour sessions to launch the book with six Guam Department of Education elementary schools in March 2021. The Virtual Story Hour included an introduction to World War II on Guam from a History Scholar and a reading of the book by Pacific Historic Parks staff, and an interview of a World War II survivor of Guam, Mrs. Natividad Calvo, affectionately known as “Auntie Natty.” Students were able to interact with the staff, History Scholar, and Auntie Natty during these live virtual story hour sessions. The story hour engaged school aged children about the war in Guam and prompted them to reflect on the actions of people from their community who were witnesses and/or survivors of the occupation of the Island. Ms. Lee Anne Galang, a teacher from AsTumbo Elementary School, said “It was an amazing Virtual Story Time. My students really enjoyed hearing the experiences of Auntie Natty." The workshop allowed for a shared discourse and critical thinking skills to be fostered and nurtured.

Pacific Historic Parks received funding from Humanities Guåhan, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the federal CARES Act for the “Story of World War II on Guam” program. In total, it reached approximately 400 youth and adults and serves an important source of material in preserving the island’s rich heritage. The project is significant, as there are limited historical literary materials geared toward younger children about the World War II experience in Guam. Mrs. Janet Salas from Ordot-Chalan Pago Elementary School said, “Teachers now have a resource that they can use when they teach about Guam's history as well as the history of the people who were here during 1941-1944. Most students are not exposed to our history during these years. I know that our students learned a lot and gained a book that they can use later on.”

Find out more about this program at www.pacifichistoricparks.org, where you can watch a recording of the virtual story hour, download the curriculum companion, and learn about the legacies of the war on Guam.