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This unit acquaints students with life in America during the Vietnam Era, a time in which traditional values were questioned and societal ills were confronted. Topics addressed include civil rights, ecological responsibility, space exploration, and the war in Vietnam.
The trade books for the Primary section of this unit are The Story of Ruby Bridges, Rachel Carson: Friend of Nature, Wilma Mankiller, and Project Apollo. The trade books for the Upper Elementary portion of the unit are A Picture Book of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, A Wall of Names: The Story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Cesar Chavez. The unit does not include the actual children's literature books. Classroom activities include making a mural based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, forming NASA research teams to study the rigors of space travel, writing letters and giving speeches about the Vietnam War, and grieving the losses of war with a look at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Students also study the evolution of recycling, compare the racism experienced by migrant workers with that of African Americans, and observe the impact of positive prejudice. Although activities are organized into primary and upper elementary sections, many assignments can be adapted to suit either age group.
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