Description

Overview:

In this lesson, students analyze primary source documents in an effort to answer the central historical question: How should we remember the dropping of the atomic bomb? First, students are told that they will choose an appropriate photo to accompany a U.N. website commemorating the dropping of the bomb. Students are then introduced to 2 narratives about WWII: “Hiroshima as Victimization” (the Japanese point of view) vs. “Hiroshima as Triumph” (the American point of view). The class is then divided into 2 halves, each of which looks at a variety of source documents‰ŰÓanecdotes, letters, and data‰ŰÓthrough its side‰ŰŞs point of view only. Students then form groups of 4 to choose which image should be used in the ‘website.‰ŰŞ Each group shares its image and explains why they chose it. In a final discussion, the class talks about whether the bomb should have been dropped and whether they can second-guess a decision like Truman‰ŰŞs.

Subject:

U.S. History

Level:

Middle School, High School

Material Type:

Lesson

Provider:

Stanford History Education Group

Provider Set:

Reading Like a Historian

Date Added:

10/31/2012