World War II changed the fabric of American lives especially within the family structure. The legacy of World War II has left a mark on how families function today. Through this flexbook we will address the changes that the war caused within the family structure. The standard course of study for Kindergarten for social studies focuses on families and communities. We will address the interesting topic of World War II through this lens in order to show students how families were forever changed due to this event.

      One thing that led to our adoption of this topic was a critique of the Horizon’s North Carolina textbook for fourth grade. It came to our attention that the topic was not covered as extensively as it should have been. In this textbook there was a two page spread about World War II. This was two pages to include four years that radically changed the family structure in America. In our flexbook we will try strive to consider different types of families throughout World War II and the changes that they incurred.

      Also, upon two interviews with Kindergarten students it came to our attention that they had little knowledge of World War II. One child could not define war. It is our hope to show students how war can affect how families interact and survive. Although Kindergartners are rarely introduced to such a complex topic as World War II, through the lens of family we think that we will be better able to help them understand families and communities and their evolution to survive in a changed environment.

      If a student were to peruse through their school library to find information about World War II families, they would find little information about the changes that they went through. The few sources that we found in one elementary school library library included information about industry and wartime conflict. There was little to no information about families in North Carolina during World War II.

     In sum, it is our aim to give students a resource for this information. This flexbook will address families in North Carolina specifically asking the question, “How were families changed as a result of World War II in North Carolina?” We hope that you will join us as we step back into history and examine this historic event through the familiar lens of family.