Materials

• Reading selection on Vietnam (may be copies of soldiers letters, news reports, magazine articles, etc.)
• Music from the Vietnam era, previewed for appropriateness prior to classroom use
• Cold War notes to be discussed (Attachment A)
• Class textbook
• Timelines

Instructional Activities

1. If appropriate music has been selected, play it as the students enter the classroom.
   
   
2. Remind students that the Vietnam War evoked a wide variety of emotions and that many musicians reflected the varied moods of the country in their lyrics. Play an appropriate song selection, and, if possible, display the lyrics on the overhead as the students listen. At the end of the song, ask students what the lyrics mean. Be prepared with questions to guide this discussion. If possible, play a few additional songs that reflect different points of view.
   
   
3. Discuss additional notes on the Vietnam War.
   
   
4. Review the content from the previous session. If students have developed a list of questions they would like to ask a Vietnam War veteran, ask them to offer their best questions to make a class list. Develop answers to the questions, using the textbook and other resources as well as the class discussion thus far. Alternatively, read a selected reading on Vietnam to the class. Be prepared with questions to guide discussion on the reading.
   
   
5. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available resources.