Student Learning Objectives:
1.
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Students will examine and analyze primary source documents
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2.
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Students will make inferences about soldiers and their participation in the My Lai Massacre.
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Lesson Development
1.
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There are several ways to create a document activity. This particular method allows student to walk around the room. Also, it forces them to write their responses, and to respond to each other’s comment in writing.
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2.
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When students enter the room the documents should already be posted on the walls.
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3.
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At each document, student should read the passage or examine the picture. They should also answer the guiding question. I like to mount the documents in the center of a large piece of paper and have students write their responses on the big paper. Students should spend about 5 minute working with the first exhibit.
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4.
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After 5 minutes have passed, students should move on to a second exhibit. In this round, and in subsequent rounds, students will respond to both the original documents and each other’s responses.
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5.
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After each of the exhibits has been visited, have student do one more go around so that they can read and respond to any additional remarks.
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6.
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After they return to their seats debrief the activity.
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Here is a selection of documents and testimonies that could be used during the activity. I have included some suggestions for guiding questions. I have used as few as 3 documents and as many as 8. If using post duplicate copies so that students have ample room. The following documents can be found in
My Lai: a Brief History with Documents
by James Olson and Randy Roberts. It has become the standard collection of primary source documents on the subject.
1.
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Jay Roberts, Press Release, March 1968 on page 27
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a.
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According to Roberts, was the mission a success of a failure?
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2.
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Wallet Cards on page 38
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a.
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Which of the nine rules do you think it the most important? Why?
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b.
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Which of the “Enemy in Your Hands” guidelines is the most important? Why?
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3.
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Herbert L Carter, Testimony to Peers Commission, 1970 on page 42
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a.
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What do you think of Carter’s remarks? Do you agree or disagree with him?
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4.
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Harry Stanley, Testimony to US Army C.I.D., 1969 on page 65, Gregory T. Olsen, Testimony to US Army C.I.D., 1969 on page 64, Max D. Huston, Testimony to US Army C.I.D., on page 63, and Ernest L Medina, Testimony to US Army C.I.D., on page 62
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a.
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Which of these men is telling the truth? Who would you believe? Why?
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5.
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Hugh Thompson Jr., Testimony to Peers Commission, 1970 on page 115
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a.
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What risks did Thompson face in this episode?
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Additionally, the following resources can be found in other books and on the web where indicated.
1.
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Ronald Haeberle, in 4 Hours in My Lai, by Bolton and Sims, page 124
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a.
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Does Haeberle incur any responsibility for the deaths of the villagers? Why?
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2.
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Kenneth Hodges, in 4 Hours in My Lai, by Bolton and Sims, page 53
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a.
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Who is at fault for the deaths of the villagers?
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