Colton Jewell

Vietnam and Primary Sources- Lesson 2

Junior/Seniors- US History
50 Minutes
Vietnam War
Common Core Standards to Meet:
SS.H.5.9-12: Analyze the factors and historical context that influenced the perspectives of
people during different historical eras
SS.H.8.9-12: Analyze key historical events and contributions of individuals through a variety of
perspectives, including those of historically underrepresented groups
Theme 2: Time, Continuity, Change
Educational Objectives:
1. Students will be able to analyze primary sources of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson,
and Ho Chi Minh.
2. Students will be able to understand the geography of Southeast Asia
3. Students will be able to define the following academic language: Gulf of Tonkin, Viet
Cong, Ho Chi Minh Trail, My Lai, Saigon, and Buddhisim.
4. Students will be able to see the change of Vietnam leading up to the start of the war.
Assessment on Learning:
1. Students will be able to complete “Sticky Backs” activity- Each student will get the
names/events on their back and have to describe said name/event to the other student.
2. Students will complete a fill in the blank map activity of Southeast Asia.
3. Students will complete an analysis of primary sources from the following: JFK tv
interview, back and forth letters from Ho CHi Minh to Lyndon B Johnson, and the
interactive Lyndon B Johnson website.
Central Focus
● Students will be able to understand why the US intervened in Vietnam and understand the
geography of southeast asia.
Accommodations for students with specific learning needs:
● N/A
Academic Language
Language Function (select 1):

Analyze Compare/Contrast Construct Describe Evaluate

Examine Identify Interpret Justify Locate

 Explain Prove Argue Synthesize

Identify a learning task from your plan that provides students with opportunities to
practice using the language function identified above:
The students will be able to analyze and interpret the intervention of the Vietnam war.
Additional Language Demands. Given the language function and learning task identified
above, describe the following associated language demands (written or oral) students need to
understand and/or use:
Students will be able to analyze and interpret the intervention of the Vietnam war by
completing a written response to see their understanding of the intervention.
Vocabulary:
● Gulf of Tonkin: A resolution passed by congress to give the president the power to do anything
with the military to protect the safety of the U.S.A. However, this act gave too much power to the
president. It was passed after a U.S. destroyer was attacked off the shore of North Vietnam in the
Gulf of Tonkin.
● Viet Cong: A group in South Vietnam that believed that communism was best for Vietnam's
government and fought for communism against the South Vietnamese military and the U.S.
military.
● Ho Chi Minh Trail: A trail that was used by the North Vietnamese military to help supply the
Viet Cong in South Vietnam. This trail went through North Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and South
Vietnam.
● My Lai: A village in South Vietnam that was supposedly housing the Viet Cong. Many of the
villagers in the village were women and children. The massacre was committed by Charlie
Company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the Americal Division.
Charlie Company arrived at the village and started shooting the villagers.
● Saigon: Capital of South Vietnam.
● Buddhism: encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely
based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and resulting interpreted
philosophies.
Plus at least one of the following:
Syntax
Discourse
I will use both syntax and discourse while teaching the lesson and covering the academic
language.
Materials:
 ● Whiteboard
● Markers
● Pencil, pens, paper
● Class textbook’
● Powerpoint
● Primary sources

Anticipatory Set/ Attention Getter:

Show JFK press conference about the Vietnam war and LBJ press conference on the
Vietnam War.
JFK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iph_KkKLfcA
LBJ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17cDGMRM1U
Questions to ask:
1. Why did Kennedy want to be in Vietnam?
2. Why did Johnson want to be in Vietnam?
3. What was Ho Chi Minh’s reaction to Johnson's letters?
4. How is the argument for American troops in support of South Vietnam justified?
Sequence of Events:
1. Attention getter
2. Fill in the blank map activity
3. Sticky back activity
4. Primary sources
a. https://www.jfklibrary.org/sites/default/files/2018-
07/JFKandVietnamLessonPlan.pdf
b. http://www.lbjlibrary.org/exhibits/the-vietnam-conflict/
c.
5. Written response (Homework if need be)
Conclusion/Summary:
Wrap up the beginning of the vietnam war and cover the primary sources given.