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  • Dropping the Bomb

Dropping the Bomb

Dropping the Bomb

A Web Quest for US Government

Introduction

Welcome students! You have been given the wonderful gift of time travel for this Web Quest. Your mission on this quest is to study the dropping of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. You may persuade President Truman to support the dropping of the atomic bomb or you may persuade the President to not release the Atomic bomb and proceed with the ground invasion of Japan. Remember that the future of the world depends on you! You will have time to create and refine this project before you give your presentation to President Truman.


Guiding question---Should the American government drop the atomic bomb?

Task

You will be responsible for the following:

  • Evaluate the following sites and answer 5 questions about each web document.
    1. President Truman’s diary.
    2. Photographs of the destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
    3. Eyewitness accounts of the destruction caused by the bomb.
    4. Photographs and documents of the Japanese invasion of Nanking China
    5. The cultural complexity of the Asian culture –Bushido Code
  • Type the answers to the 20 questions in Microsoft Word.
  • Write a 1 - page double spaced letter   to President Truman supporting or opposing the dropping of the atomic bomb.

 

Process with Resources

Part 1

  • Review President Truman’s diary and answer the following questions:
    1. What information did President Truman have regarding the strength of this bomb?
    2. Who did president Truman intend to be the target of this new bomb?
    3. How did President Truman view the Japanese?
    4. When was the bomb to be used?
    5. How did Truman view the atomic bomb?
       
  • Review 5 photographs of the destruction and write a brief reflection (1-3 sentences each) on each picture that is viewed.
     
  • Review the eyewitness account of Father Siemes and answer 5 questions.
    1. Why were the citizens of Hiroshima surprised when the atomic bomb was dropped on their city?
    2. What were the rumors concerning the city of Hiroshima?
    3. What did Father Siemes observe in the city after the bomb was dropped?
    4. What type of rescue effort by the Japanese citizens did Father Siemes observe?
    5. What did you learn by researching this web site?
       
  • Review the military invasion of China by Japan and answer 5 questions about the Nanking Massacre.
    1. What period of time did the Japanese invasion of China occur?
    2. What happened during the Nanking massacre?  How many were killed?
    3. Name 2 atrocities that occurred during this time.
    4. How has Japan denied this massacre?
    5. Why do you believe Japan is unrepentant about this massacre?
       
  • Review the cultural attitude towards war and life in Japan in the 1940’s by reviewing the Bushido Code.
    1. What is the Bushido Code?
    2. What does the one unchanging ideal involve?
    3. What was the Supreme honor of the Bushido Code?
    4. How did the public educational system use the Bushido Code to encourage nationalism?
    5. What information can you summarize by researching this web site?

Ø     Type the answers in Microsoft Word.  Put your team’s names as a header at the top.  Print.

Part 2

  • Write a 1 page letter per group supporting or opposing the decision to drop the atomic bomb.  This letter is due at the time of the presentation to President Truman. 
  • Create this letter in block form.  Look below to see a guideline for your letter to the President.

Dear Students:

 So what am I supposed to do in this letter to President Truman?

 One person in your group will type while the others will dictate the letter to President Truman.

You need to have 4 paragraphs with at least 4 complete sentences in each one.  

Each paragraph will include information about:

  1. The possibility of sending troops to Japan instead of bombing them and what the Japanese might do to Americans.  Use your information found about the Nanjing Massacre.
  2. The Bushido Code and what that code means for Japan ever surrendering.
  3. Truman’s letter and his understanding of what the atomic bomb will do and his understanding of the Japanese.  Remember, you have the advantage of knowing what will happen as a result of dropping the bombs.
  4. Your fears of what will happen should they use the atomic bomb and why Truman should or should not use the bomb.  Should he surprise the Japanese with the bomb or give them warning?  Should he use both bombs?  What other targets could he use?  What other alternatives might you recommend?

 Your letter should be 1 page double-spaced.

 

Sincerely,

 Mrs. Kelm

Evaluation

Ø      View and print the scoring guide.

 

Group names:

Hour:

 

Dropping the Bomb Scoring Guide

Criteria

Points Possible

Points Awarded

Correct Answers to 25 Questions

 

25

 

1st paragraph of letter has information about the Nanjing Massacre and how it relates to decisions about the military

5

 

2nd paragraph of letter explains the Bushido Code to the president and why it is important to know

5

 

3rd paragraph of letter lets Truman know your opinion about the comments in his letter and clears up any misunderstandings he has.

5

 

4th paragraph of letter explains clearly your support or discouragement of the use of the bomb based upon the information that you know.

5

 

Block form letter with greeting, 4 paragraph body, close and signature

10

 

4 complete sentences in each paragraph

16

 

Correct spelling and grammar after editing

20

 

 

Conclusion
 

Ø       You have learned more about decisions that changed the course of history and ended the war with Japan.  What happened to the thousands that survived the bombing at Hiroshima and Nagasaki?  Read their story about what they experienced at the time and how they survived, both physically and emotionally.
 

 Teacher Guide

Goal 2

3. exchange information, questions and ideas while recognizing the perspectives of others

Goal 3

4. evaluate the processes used in recognizing and solving problems

6. examine problems and proposed solutions from multiple perspectives

7. evaluate the extent to which a strategy addresses the problem

Missouri Grade Level Expectations

1I:  Compare, contrast, analyze and evaluate connections between information and relationships in various fiction and non-fiction works, text ideas and the world by analyzing the relationship between literature and the historical period and culture.

3D:  Summarize 2 or more articles and write a brief informational paper integrating supporting information from both sources.

Teacher Lesson:

Introduce Web Quest by asking about WWII.  What were significant events?  Ask if they have ever heard of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Explain about the power of the atomic bomb. Show video of Truman’s life.

Go through Dropping the Bomb Web Quest, responsibilities of students, and select the team they are to work with. Choose 2 or 3 students to be on each team. Decide between team members what task each group member has.

Review the Nanjing Massacre web page and show what links will give answers to the questions.

Students are to type the answers to the questions in Microsoft Word.  While one team member is typing the answers, the other 2 are to create the letter to President Truman.

Go through the student letter that explains what information is expected.  The students are to create the letter in Microsoft Word.