US-China Institute lesson
Rationale:
As a history teacher I find it important for students to analyze multiple perspectives while examining a variety of historical types of evidence.
Skill and Content Objectives
Essential Questions:
Was it necessary to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
How should Hiroshima and Nagasaki be remembered?
Day 1 (90 minutes)
Step 1
Anticipatory Set:
As “bellwork” student will analyze the following quote. A brief class discussion will ensue about the meaning a relevance of the quote to the past and present.
“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” –Albert Einstein
Step 2
Input:
Students will view a PowerPoint lecture of the dropping of the bombs (include pictures of aftermath). They will complete the graphic organizer below focusing on the Who, What, When, Where and Why of the bombing. The following videos can also be used to provide further connections.
Overview of bombing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4LQaWJRDg
Videos:
Was it Wrong to Drop the Atom Bomb on Japan?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmIBbcxseXM
Facts:
Who, What, When, Where , Why, How?
Pro Con
Step 3:
Begin by referring back to the essential question.
Distribute Primary sources from the Stanford History Education Group. This includes 7 primary and secondary sources. Supplementary primary sources can also be used. In groups students will analyze each document and determine whether it was necessary to drop the atomic bombs. Students will chart the information on the graphic organizer
https://sheg.stanford.edu/atomic-bomb
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/
http://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/
Step 4
Use exit cards to check for student understanding
Start Day 2:
Step 5
Students will participate in a Philosophical Chairs debate that refers to the following:
Essential Questions:
-Was it necessary to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
- How should Hiroshima and Nagasaki be remembered?
http://www.d120.org/assets/1/avid/Using_Philosophical_Chairs.pdf
Step 6
Students will write an introduction and supporting paragraph that answers one of the following:
Was it necessary to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
How should Hiroshima and Nagasaki be remembered?
Should all nuclear weapons be outlawed?
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