Center for Technology and Teacher Education

The Dropping of the Atomic Bomb
Procedures

1. As a "Do Now," have the following statement on the board when the students arrive to class:

"In your journal answer the following question in a single paragraph: If you were the President of the United States, for what reason(s) would you order the use of nuclear weapons?"

2. After journal writing, to begin class have the students brainstorm the first things that come to mind when you mention the word "Hiroshima." Have a student keep a list of items mentioned on a computer or piece of paper. Try not to use the chalkboard, this list will be used later and would have better effectiveness if the students cannot see it during the class.

3. Give a brief introduction to the assignment. Be sure to mention generally what each group will be covering: Photographs of the bomb damages, President Truman's diaries and press release, survivors statements, eyewitness reports of the first tests, and information from various sources both for and against the use of the bomb.

4. Break the class up into groups of 3 or 4. Each of the groups will be given an assignment:
Photography Group Survivors Group Testing Eyewitness Group
Time Fax Group Truman Group

5. Give the groups of period of time to work. Groups usually need 20-30 minutes minimum.

6. Groups then are given time to present their results. This can be done at the end of the period, if time available, or next class session.

7. When last group has presented, as a closure have the students return to their brainstormed list. (If the lists can be projected for the class to work with would be best) Have the students peruse the list to see how they would compare what they know now verses what they said at the start of class.

This module was created by D. Mark Meyers of Rowan University.