Civil Rights and Incarceration

Students analyze the consequences of the removal of Japanese Americans in the western United States to relocation centers during World War II.
In this lesson students view and take notes on a 10-minute newsreel describing the evacuation and relocation of Japanese Americans from western states during World War II. Students analyze the movie using a handout. Questions focus students' attention on analyzing the government's case for the necessity of the incarceration. This newsreel activity and a set of introductory readings, pictures, and interviews make up the recommended core of the lesson. Most of the remaining eight activities, by contrast, illustrate the Japanese American perspective on the incarceration. Each activity is organized around a different type of primary source, including photographs, diaries, autobiographies, poetry, and theater. Classroom activities range from analyzing textual and visual sources to performing scripted dramatic readings. Some activities include potentially challenging reading material, but teachers can tailor the lesson to the needs of their students by choosing from the many options available. We think that teachers will appreciate the diversity, high quality, clear presentation, and emotional resonance of the materials provided by this lesson.

Yes Materials used in the lesson have been well researched. Content and materials on the Densho site are very thorough. Check out other resources and causes of incarceration.
Yes Students are required to study an introductory section, The Incarceration Years, before beginning film analysis.
Yes Newsreel activity requires students write a film review. Optional activities may include reading primary sources and offer additional writing assignments.
Yes Constructing interpretations and evidence-based judgments about the incarceration is central to most of the activities.
Yes Each activity is organized around a different type of source. Much of the lesson encourages students to think critically about what can be learned from different source materials.
Yes The basic newsreel and introductory activities would be appropriate for any high school class. Other activities range in difficulty, including some that would challenge Advanced Placement history students.
Yes A variety of worksheets and suggested discussion questions are provided to scaffold student thinking.
No Not all activities include assessment strategies.
Yes The lesson provides clear directions. Detailed advice on how to use the lesson in any classroom is provided on the site.
Yes Learning objectives are explicitly stated.