Lesson by Tim Bailey
Essay by Meredith Lair, George Mason University
Grade Level: 7–12
Number of Class Periods: 2
Primary Era: Post-World War II, 1945–1975
About This Lesson Plan Unit
In the two lessons in this unit students will analyze four songs and two poems from the Vietnam War era. These songs and poems in many ways reflect the experience of the average soldier and the tensions over issues such as the draft and the pushback against the emerging counterculture.
Lesson Plan Author: Tim Bailey
Historical Background Essay by: Meredith Lair, George Mason University
Additional Information About This Unit
Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.8.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1C: Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
To what extent was popular music an expression of the sentiments of many Americans concerning the war in Vietnam?
To what extent does poetry effectively communicate the experiences of soldiers serving in Vietnam?
In what ways did veterans’ descriptions of wartime service resemble or depart from songwriters’ descriptions?
Documents
Documents
P. F. Sloan, “Eve of Destruction,” ©1965
Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler and Robin Moore, “Ballad of the Green Berets,” ©1966
Joe McDonald, “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die-Rag,” ©1965
Merle Haggard and Roy Burris, “Okie from Muskogee,” ©1969
Yusef Komunyakaa, “A Break from the Bush” from Dien Cai Dau, ©1988
Brian Weigl, “Elegy” from ARCHEOLOGY OF THE CIRCLE, ©1999