University of California
The Vietnam War (1945 – 1975)
Have you ever wanted to do something so perfectly you wound up not doing it well at all? Young historians use primary and secondary documents to analyze the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. The issues surrounding the...
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Knowledge of Vietnam War
Kids compare and contrast knowledge of the Vietnam War. They consider what they know and how their knowledge has changed after listening to oral histories from the war. They compare the understanding of the war from the perspective of...
Tennessee State Library & Archives
Vietnam War
A picture can speak 1000 words. Scholars research the Vietnam War through the lens of a camera. Examining photos from the collection of Christopher D. Ammons allows open interpretation of life during one of America's darkest conflicts....
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Military Advisers in Vietnam: 1963
How did the beginning of the Vietnam War factor into the Cold War with the Soviet Union? As part of a study of American involvement in Vietnam, class members read a letter address to President Kennedy and his response in which...
National Constitution Center
Born in the U.S.A: Music as Political Protest
Though often used in shows of patriotism, Bruce Springsteen's 1985 song "Born in the U.S.A." is critical of America's role in the Vietnam war and its treatment of American veterans. High schoolers analyze the song's lyrics in an activity...
Curated OER
Opposing Views on the Vietnam War
Students consider opinions regarding the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam instructional activity, students compare Nixon and Johnson's policies about the war. Students also research the anti-war movements as well as the sentiments of the...
Smithsonian Institution
POWs
Why did Vietnam POWs and their families receive more media attention than POWs in previous wars? To answer this question, class members view artifacts, read articles, and engage in class discussion. Individuals then assume the...
Curated OER
Is the Media Part of the Story?
Students discuss the role of the media in public opinion. They use the internet to research when the media has had an impact on war. They write an essay about their research and any conclusions they have made.
Curated OER
America and Canada: The Post Cold War Era
Students discuss the provoking question, "What does the term social change mean?" They discuss the social changes taking place during and following the Cold War. Students participate in a short discussion, they are presented with facts...
Curated OER
War and the Media Press Freedom vs. Military Censorship
Students analyze the relationship between war and media. In this media awareness lesson plan, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on freedom of the press and military censorship. Students participate in an activity...
Curated OER
Cold War Conflict in Vietnam: The Vietnam-Era Presidency
Comparing and evaluating various media types is a great way to build critical analysis skills. Learners read about the Vietnam era presidency, specifically the foreign policy established by Johnson and Nixon. Then they compare several...
Minnesota State University
Media Portrayal of the Vietnam War
History classes can explore two different depictions of the Vietnam War experience with this engaging resource. While watching clips of Platoon and reading excerpts from the comic, The 'Nam, students take notes for use in completing...
Civil War Trust
Civil War Newspaper
One photograph can represent so much more than the images on the film. Eighth graders select a photograph from the Civil War era and conduct additional research based on the subject matter from the picture. Once they complete the...
Curated OER
Evolution of Mass Media after 1920
Eleventh graders study the importance of media through American History. In this American History lesson, 11th graders develop teamwork skills discovering information regarding an assigned time period. Students predict and...
Curated OER
Man in Conflict - Vietnam and Literature
Eleventh graders analyze the lyrics of protest music. In this Vietnam War lesson, 11th graders examine conflict as they consider the controversial nature of the war as evidenced in song lyrics. Students also consider the Iraq War and its...
Curated OER
Iraq anniversary: No celebration
High schoolers read news articles/television reports about the D.C. protests and other similar war protests. They investigate the laws that relate to such protests. Students present their findings to the class.
PBS
Historical Perspectives: Coming Home from War
What do the homecoming experiences of soldiers who fought in WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan reveal about the politics and culture of the US during the time period of each war? Young historians view The Way We Get By, which tells...
Curated OER
Journalists Under Fire
Students examine journalism in extreme conditions. In this war-zone journalism activity, students research media coverage of Vietnam, Grenada, the Gulf War, and military actions in Somalia and Kosovo. Students compare coverage in...
Curated OER
The Khmer Rouge
Young scholars examine life in Cambodia and Vietnam from 1975-1979, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. They discuss how an otherwise peaceful society could allow such events to take place and write a short paper and complete a culminating...
Curated OER
Skepticism Toward Government
Students explain how the media portrays certain events and its effects on public opinion of government. They focus on Watergate, the Vietnam War, and the Clinton impeachment. They write essays about skepticism promoted by the media.
Curated OER
The First Televised War
High schoolers view a film about the role of the media in the Vietnam War. They discuss the risks journalists face when covering a war and how the television changed how people at home saw the war. They answer questions to complete the...
Curated OER
Social Studies: War and the Media
Students examine the impact of the media on various wars, especially the Iraq and Vietnam wars. By examining cartoons and popular music as primary sources, they suggest motivations for the conflicts and propose reasons for public...
Curated OER
The Pentagon Papers
Young scholars examine national security issues. In this Vietnam lesson, students research the background and controversy surrounding the Pentagon Papers. Young scholars discuss press rights in light of maintaining national security.
Curated OER
The Gulf War and its Consequences
Students study the historical background of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. They determine that not all Americans were in favor of the Gulf War and examine the Gulf War Syndrome. They discover that another possible cause pertains to...