After reading the article Choices: Truman, Hirohito, and the Atomic Bomb, class members engage in a simulation, assume the role of President Truman or one of his advisors, and discuss the options open to the president. The exercise...

Passages from Unbroken and Farewell to Manzanar provide the context for a study of the historical themes of experiencing war, resilience during war, and understanding the lasting trauma of war. Appendices include extension activities,...

This video brings viewers up to modern history (1975) after taking them through WWII, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Though the format of the timeline might appear straightforward, viewers will be engaged...

Take an in-depth look at the historical events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in this 69-slide PowerPoint. Photos, facts, and transcripts are outlined in this presentation in order to answer the stated essential question in slide 2: "What...

A reading of Eleanor Coerr's Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes provides upper elementary students an opportunity to contribute to the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan. After reading the story, class members learn about...

Young historians examine photos, letters, war posters, and other primary source documents to analyze the rationale for the Manhattan Project, determine why Oak Ridge was selected as a site for the Secret City, and study the contributions...

Though the scientists who developed the atom bomb did not believe it should be used to end World War II, American President Harry S. Truman and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were of like mind in their decision to drop the bomb...

The Soviet Union's decision to block West Berlin from access by the Western allies began an international hostility that extended into the rest of the twentieth century. Class members examine both Harry Truman's and Joseph Stalin's...

Sometimes the most important details of an informational text aren't within the text at all. Teach your class how to read timeline with a set of activities that prompts them to find specific dates and events on the timelines, as well as...

The end of World War II saw major events that would forever change the global landscape and international relations. Using a fantastic PowerPoint presentation and several primary source documents, your learners will discuss the bombing...

On a Monday in August, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. Watch the allies gain control over the surrounding islands before deciding to drop the atomic bomb. Use this video to spark a debate: was dropping...

This PowerPoint clearly outlines many elements that contributed to the Allied Forces winning WWII. Topics covered are wartime technology, D-Day, The Holocaust, Perl Harbor, the Atomic Bomb and how winning the war changed the face of the...

“The crux of the matter is whether total war in its present form is justifiable. . .” After reading “The Aftermath,” the final chapter of Hiroshima, class members use a Question Answer Response (QAR) strategy to reflect on issues raised...

A mix of scientific details and background information about the well-known sites of radiation attacks or accidents. This topic may open up details that you may consider as sensitive, and could be upsetting to some pupils. This is a...

The Japanese crane has become an international symbol of peace. After reading Eleanor Coerr's Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes, class members research the Thousand Crane Quilt and draw connections between the symbol, the bombing of...

Intended as a discussion starter, this presentation poses the question, "Was the use of the atomic bomb on Japan justifiable?" Images of the key players and events are shown but there is very little text. Use this resource to get your...

Students discover the technological and scientific requirements for making the atomic bomb, the immediate effects of an atomic bomb, and the social and political changes that have resulted from the Manhattan Project.

Twelfth graders research historical turning points, gather-data, and extrapolate possible alternate outcomes. They work individually to choose one historical event from Attachment D, Historical Turning Points. Students complete either...

Twelfth graders examine how the atomic bomb was developed. They identify when the bombs were used during WWII. Students examine the effects of dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Learners research the use of the atomic bomb in WWII, analyze the human costs of dropping the bomb and identify the pros and cons. They develop a PowerPoint presentation on the effects of an atomic bomb dropped on their hometown.

Students examine one writer's opinion about how different generations of Japanese citizens have been influenced by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After 43 seconds of falling, a chemical reaction began in the bomb falling over Hiroshima. Within another few seconds, tens of thousands of Japanese civilians were incinerated, ripped apart, and left to die in their decimated city....