​rethink.

Lesson 2:

Childrens Book

    My Name Is America: The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty,

United States Marine Corps

 

Lesson Overview:

Students will have read the story of Patrick Seamus Flaherty to form an understanding of the struggles individuals involved with the Vietnam War faced. By reading about the feelings of an American soldier stationed in Vietnam, as well the impact it had on his anti-war sister, students will see both sides of the spectrum and be able to compare and contrast the different points of view about the war. After reading, students will form their own thoughts about the war and write their own journals expressing their feelings.

 

Preparation

Prior Knowledge:

• Basic understanding of the history of the vietnam war

Materials:

Book - My Name Is America: The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty, United States Marine Corps

Big Venn Diagram

Overhead Projector

Journal pages

 

Instruction

1. Review of the basic timeline of the Vietnam War

2. Review the book of Patrick Seamus Flaherty - discuss his point of view as well as his sisters. Compare and contrast their feelings and what they dealt with everyday

• Open up a discussion about the journal. Ask students “What was the best part of The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty? Why?

• Using a Venn Diagram as a whole class, have students think about the feelings of both Patrick and his sister.

• Write in the diagram similarities and differences between the two siblings

• Have students decide if they would be more likely to be a part of the war in Vietnam, or an anti-war demonstrator in America

3. Model outlining a journal

• Discuss what makes a “good” journal

• On an overhead projector, create a graphic organizer on thoughts on the war (think aloud)

• Take the point of view of the sister

• Describe your anti-war feelings and the difficulties of having a brother in the war

4. Give students time to figure out which point of view they would take and have them outline their thoughts using a graphic organizer

5. Model writing a journal entry

• On an overhead projector, write a few sentences that would start a journal entry

• Point out how you are writing through first person

• Use plenty of feelings and details

6. Students write their own journal entry

7. Share during read aloud if students want to

 

Standards

• 1.4.4.B:  Write multi-paragraph informational pieces (e.g., descriptions, letters, reports, instructions)

  • Use relevant graphics (maps, charts, graphs, tables, illustrations, photographs).

• 1.5.4.D:  Write with an understanding of style, using a variety of sentence structures, precise words (e.g., adjectives, nouns, adverbs, verbs) that create voice.

• 8.1.4.B:  Distinguish between fact and opinion from multiple points of view, and primary sources as related to historical events.