The following Lesson Plan is from both perspectives of the Japanese and the US during the beginnings of WWII and the end of the war. This 3 Day Lesson includes Lecture/Notetaking, Video, Online Research, Argument/Debate, Critical Thinking, and a Written Reflection.
Day 1: Japanese Aggression in Bataan and Nanjing
-Lecture Notes: attached (soon...issues with size of file)
-Primary Source Reading: Rape of Nanking: The History Place, Genocide in the 20th Century
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm
Day 2: WWII Allied Victories and Atrocities in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
-Lecture Notes: attached (soon...issues with size of file)
-Video Clip:24 Hours After Hiroshima https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yez_gesztE
-Article: Website: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/08/hiroshima-nagasaki-atomic-bomb-guide-unnecessary/
Day 3: The Bombs Debate
HOMEWORK prior to Day 3: Research Articles and Video for Pro/Con:
Arguments on Justification BOTH Pro/Con:
Article #1: Was the US justified in Dropping the Atomic Bombs
-http://www.historyextra.com/feature/second-world-war/was-us-justified-dropping-atomic-bombs-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-during-second
Article #2: 70 Years After Hiroshima
-http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/08/04/70-years-after-hiroshima-opinions-have-shifted-on-use-of-atomic-bomb/
Con Articles:
Article #1: Hiroshima: A Survivor’s Reply
-http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/06/world/hiroshima-justified-bombings-a-survivor-s-reply.html?pagewanted=all
Article #2: Leo Szilard’s Petition to the President
http://www.dannen.com/decision/45-07-17.html
Pro Article/Video:
Video #1: 24 Hours After Hiroshima
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yez_gesztE
Article #1: The Decision to Use the Bomb: Arguments Supporting the Bomb
http://www.authentichistory.com/1939-1945/1-war/4-Pacific/4-abombdecision/2-support/
-Also encourage students to continue their own research for HW (required for AP)
IN CLASS
-Students debate: facts and opinions of whether or not it was justified to drop the bombs.
Class split into groups of 4 (2 students w/ pro article/2 students with con article)
(I would have students read a minimum of 1 argument from both sides and then assign 1 additional article from either the Pro or Con side --for AP read all articles).
-Writing Assignment:
Was the United States justified in the dropping of the 2 atomic bombs. Why or Why NOT? Give supporting evidence for your answer.
edited by skroop on 12/4/2015
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Japanese Agression/The Atomic Bombs
01/21/2016 12:22 PM
#1
Japanese Agression/The Atomic Bombs
I'm going to adapt this for my middle-schoolers.
AWESOME! I'm glad it could be of help to you!!
I'm still trying to add those lecture notes for PowerPoint--not sure why it wouldn't load as an attachment quite yet.
Also...
I like to gage my audience for debates. I found that starting debates in small groups of 4 allow students to build ideas in a more comfortable setting without students feeling intimidated, and then lead into a FULL class debate afterwards with volunteers presenting from each group.
Thank you for sharing. This is a very engaging lesson plan, I have juniors who love to talk so they would surely enjoy it.
Thanks for this! I'm totally going to use it with my classes next semester. The video clips you included are great, as is the advice about prepping students for debates. Thanks for the resources!
The authentichistory article is excellent. The argument against using the bomb is pretty obvious, especially since it's an attack on civilians. The article can help students understand why the decision to each bomb was made. It definitely gives us a different perspective on the "Japanese warrior spirit" that was romanticized in The Last Samurai.