Copies of the Teacher's Guide which comtains many additional lesson plans are available from the National Japanese American Historical Society, 1855 Folsom Street, #161, San Francisco, CA 94103. For More information call: (415) 431-5007, fax: (415) 431-0311 or e-mail: NJAHS.
Purpose: To guide and support students in the processes of critical thinking and group interaction through the study of The Bill of Rights and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Objectives:
1. Explore the Bill of Rights
2. Clarify issues relating to the Bill of Rights
3. Critically read a story that has implications on the Bill of Rights
4. Question Executive Order 9066.
5. Explore beliefs and transfer insights into new contexts.
Duration: 1 week
Days One and Two:
1. Divide the class into small groups of four or five persons
2. Give each student a copy of the short story, "Reflecting on Camp Jerome" by Delphine Hirasuna (available from NJAHS).
A. Instruct students to read the story and to take notes as they read. The notes should include reactions, questions, and feelings which they experience during the reading.
B. Explain to students that each person in the group will read his/her notes. Every group-member will respond to the reading by asking questions about the reader's reactions. (Stress that they are to ask questions that clarify the reader's response, not argue or try to discredit the reader.) The reader writes down the comments of group members. Remind students to bring their notes and responses to class each day.
Days Three and Four:
1. Hand out copies of The Bill of Rights or use a textbook which has the document. Students will "jigsaw" copies of the Bill of Rights.
A. Have each group member read a section of the Bill of Rights.
B. Each person in the group makes a report about the portion read.
C. Each person in the group takes notes on every report. D. One person in the group will present it to the rest of the class.
2. Pass out "The Internment of Japanese Americans and The Bill of Rights Worksheet"
A. Use "The Bill of Rights Worksheet" to formulate a question relating to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the Bill of Rights.
B. Write issues in the blocks on "The Internment of Japanese Americans and the Bill of Rights Worksheet".
C. As a group, formulate a clear answer and prepare a cohesive and persuasive presentation to the class using examples from the story by Delphine Hirasuna and the Bill of Rights.
