Projects

-__Newspaper Project__

You are serving as a newspaper reporter and you will write a one page article (or two articles on one page). The subject will address the Internment of Japanese Americans. Incorporate different points of view of supporting the internment or not supporting it. If students want to, they could write a newspaper article explaining Japan's point of view and why they attack Pearl Harbor. You need to include a political cartoon along with your article(s).

What needs to be included:
 * Name for the newspaper
 * Date (from the period)
 * Your name as the author
 * The article (or articles) have to have a title
 * One original political cartoon

-__Pacific Battles Research Posters__

You will be put into groups of four or five and assign them different battles to do research on
 * Battle of Wake Island
 * Battle of Midway
 * Battle of Guadalcanal
 * Battle of Iwo Jima

Students will use internet, encyclopedias, and books in the classroom. Students will work together to use these resources. Students will draw and/ or print pictures from the battle they are assigned to. Students will put information, pictures, and drawings on a poster board and will present it to the class. The posters will be posted on the walls. Each group member will grade each other after presentations.

-__Internment Camps Letters and Suitcases__

Through this project. students will have an understanding of what it felt like to be a Japanese-American placed into Internment camps.After reading the book "The Bracelet" students will reflect on what they just read and heard. The students will pretend that they are going to be sent to an internment camp and are going write two letters. One will be written to me (the teacher), explaining why he or she is leaving, and the other letter will be written to a friend explaining the same thing.Letters will be turned in for a grade then will be given back out to give to friends (make sure everyone receives a letter).

Letters will contain
 * Name
 * Date (The correct time period)
 * What is happening
 * Why you are leaving
 * How do you feel

The second part of this project will be for the students to go home and bring back a shoe box, a big purse, or a bag to carry books in. Students will also bring back as many valuables as possible. In class we will go through the valuables and only put in the ones that are essential and/ or priceless.

*Make a note to the students that they already have a bag for clothes and tooth brush, comb, etc. The students can only bring so few items and many of them might be taken up upon arrival at the internment camps.