1999 Curriculum Abstracts

"The (Re)presentation of History in Film and Video: Narrative and Media,"

The Many Holocausts of World War II: Film Facts and Fiction - Gary Rodebaugh, Lathrop Intermediate

I plan on teaching this unit, which is recommended for 8th grade Language Arts Classes and 11th grade U.S. History classes to my Language Arts and ELD classes. I expect to have around 92 students.

From magazine covers to Hollywood films, over the past few years there has been a renewed interest in World War II. My unit looks at three tragic events during this time period: the Nazi Holocaust, Japanese Internment in the United States and the Nanking massacre by Japan. In order for my students to understand these events they will explore the political, social and economic environment of the 1930's and 40's. To do this students will conduct guided research reports, examine first-hand eyewitness material, read poetry from that time, view films/documentaries and explore the Internet.

Ultimately, this is the point of my project: that the wounds of the past continue to cause friction between countries and people. China and Japan have strained diplomatic relations, and Holocaust and Internment victims still fight for the truth to be told. This project moves beyond history and delves into the genesis of these events: the tragedies did not begin with the physical actions but with the feelings and words that drove those actions. Understanding the reasons behind people's decisions will help students understand other aspects, events, and holocausts of World War II. As an English teacher, I have the opportunity to see how language and its use affect history.

"The (Re)presentation of History in Film and Video: Narrative and Media,"

	The Many Holocausts of World War II: Film Facts and Fiction - Gary Rodebaugh, Lathrop Intermediate

	I plan on teaching this unit, which is recommended for 8th grade Language Arts Classes and 11th grade U.S. History classes to my Language Arts and ELD classes. I expect to have around 92 students. From magazine covers to Hollywood films, over the past few years there has been a renewed interest in World War II. My unit looks at three tragic events during this time period: the Nazi Holocaust, Japanese Internment in the United States and the Nanking massacre by Japan. In order for my students to understand these events they will explore the political, social and economic environment of the 1930's and 40's. To do this students will conduct guided research reports, examine first-hand eyewitness material, read poetry from that time, view films/documentaries and explore the Internet. Ultimately, this is the point of my project: that the wounds of the past continue to cause friction between countries and people. China and Japan have strained diplomatic relations, and Holocaust and Internment victims still fight for the truth to be told. This project moves beyond history and delves into the genesis of these events: the tragedies did not begin with the physical actions but with the feelings and words that drove those actions. Understanding the reasons behind people's decisions will help students understand other aspects, events, and holocausts of World War II. As an English teacher, I have the opportunity to see how language and its use affect history.