World War II Worksheets, Crosswords, and Coloring Pages

World War II Planes — Sean Gladwell/Getty Images

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Updated on September 15, 2018

On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, prompting the beginning of World War II. Great Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany.

Germany was ruled by a dictator named Adolf Hitler who was a leader of the Nazi political party. The German allies, countries who fought with Germany, were called the Axis Powers. Italy and Japan were two of those countries.

The Soviet Union and the United States would both enter the war two years later, allying with British and French resistance against the Nazis. These, along with China, were known as the Allied Powers.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union battled the Axis Powers in Europe and North Africa. In the Pacific, the U.S., along with China and the U.K. fought the Japanese across Asia.

With Allied troops closing in on Berlin, Germany surrendered May 7, 1945. This date is known as VE (Victory in Europe) Day.

The Japanese government didn't surrender until August 15, 1945, after the Allied Powers dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This date is called VJ (Victory in Japan) Day.

All told, some 20 million soldiers and 50 million civilians died in the global conflict, including an estimated 6 million people, mostly Jews, killed in the Holocaust.

World War II was the defining event of the mid-20th century, and no course in U.S. history is complete without a survey of the war, its causes, and its aftermath. Plan your homeschooling activities with these World War II worksheets, including crosswords, word searches, vocabulary lists, coloring activities, and more.

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World War II Vocabulary Study Sheet

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Introduce students to terms associated with World War II using this vocabulary study sheet. This exercise is a great way to discuss the leaders of World War II and spark interest in additional research.

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World War II Vocabulary

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See how well your students remember the terms associated with World War II using this vocabulary activity. Students must answer 20 questions about World War II, choosing from a variety of war-related words. It’s a perfect way for elementary-age students to become familiar with key terms associated with the conflict.

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World War II Wordsearch

World War II Wordseach — Beverly Hernandez

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In this activity, students will search for 20 words associated with the war, including the names of Axis and Allied leaders and other related terms.

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World War II Crossword Puzzle

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Use this crossword puzzle to help students learn more about World War II by matching the clue with the appropriate term. Each of the key terms used has been provided in a word bank to make the activity accessible for younger students.

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World War II Challenge Worksheet

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Challenge your students with these multiple-choice questions about the people who played a major role in WWII. This worksheet builds upon vocabulary terms introduced in the word search exercise.

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World War II Alphabet Activity

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This worksheet allows younger students to practice their ordering and thinking skills by alphabetizing a list of names and terms associated with World War II that were introduced in earlier exercises.

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World War II Spelling Worksheet

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Use this exercise to help students improve their spelling skills and reinforce knowledge of important historical figures and events from the war.

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World War II Coloring Page

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Spark your students' creativity with this coloring page, featuring an Allied air attack on a Japanese destroyer. You can use this activity to lead a discussion about important naval battles in the Pacific, such as the Battle of Midway.

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Iwo Jima Day Coloring Page

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The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted from Feb. 19, 1945, until March 26, 1945. On Feb. 23, 1945, the American flag was raised at Iwo Jima by six United States Marines. Joe Rosenthal was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of the raising of the flag. The U.S. military occupied Iwo Jima until 1968 when it was returned to Japan.

Kids will love coloring this iconic image from the Battle of Iwo Jima. Use this exercise to discuss the battle or the famous Washington D.C. monument to those who fought in the conflict.

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Your Citation

Hernandez, Beverly. "World War II Worksheets, Crosswords, and Coloring Pages." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-worksheets-1832356. Hernandez, Beverly. (2023, April 5). World War II Worksheets, Crosswords, and Coloring Pages. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-worksheets-1832356 Hernandez, Beverly. "World War II Worksheets, Crosswords, and Coloring Pages." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-worksheets-1832356 (accessed June 4, 2023).