I used to bring micro-machines and I used to colonize the sandbox with them, digging massive open-pit mines and collecting all the tiny crystals in the sand while avoiding the kitty-logs!
I don't really remember if I did, I must have, but what I remember are all the first grade boys bringing in their Star Wars action figures and playing with them.
Im a little older than over half of the people in here but you might know of or have heard of "Secret Sam". It was a 12" telescope with an inverted mirror that allowed you to see around corners. I used it (til the principal threatened to take it away )to peer around corners everywhere.
Secretly spying on everybody,until I officially got caught. Those were fun times LOL.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.