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5.3 – The student will demonstrate an understanding of major domestic and foreign developments that contributed to the United States’ becoming a world power.
To introduce students to the role of African-Americans in WW 2 using news reel. This lesson is based on the understanding that students have already been exposed to news reel as primary source documents in the Social Studies classroom (this can be done in succession with Lesson #1 or as a stand alone lesson during African-American History Month or during a WW 2 unit).
Activities
Teacher will utilize prior primary and secondary source documents to review with students. Then, the class will compile a list of items that are considered primary source documents. (Teacher may add newsreel if students do not add.) Teacher will need to define "newsreel" with students. Have students attempt to predict the meaning of the word. (A newsreel is a documentary film that is regularly released in a public presentation place containing filmed news stories. Per Wikipedia, 2/15/08).
Show clip MVTN C 4593: Aviation: Herbert Julian. Have students make a list of what they determine to be "important" from this clip.
Discuss lists and the following questions:
- How is this a documentary film? Who or what is being documented? And why? (Or, why do you think this is so?)
- Is this really newsworthy? Why or Why not? Would it be considered newsworthy today?
Show clip MVTN 23 571: Football: Wilberforce Versus Tuskegee. Again, students list what they determine to be "important" from this clip.
Discuss lists and the above questions, adding:
- How were these two clips alike/different?
- What do they tell you about the time periods in which they were filmed?
- What do they tell you about African-Americans in the time periods in which they were filmed?
In groups, students will take discussion questions and create an argument for the following: Are newsreels valid primary source documents to teach us about history of African-Americans?
Teacher may opt to have students create a visual representation, written document or debate as an assessment of learning from this lesson.
