Ceremonies - Promoting Peace

Summary

Students will examine the consequences of Hiroshima. Students will understand how individuals can influence and participate in their community.

This lesson is created as part of a series of lessons to compliment the Center for Documentary Expression and Art's exhibit "Ceremonies: A Tale of Sister Cities", however this lesson can also be used independently of that exhibit. This lesson is meant to precede a class visit to the Ceremonies exhibit.

Materials

• Article, "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes", by Carol Heller and Elsie Williams, Teaching Tolerance, Spring 1993
• Origami instructions
• Origami paper and instructions for folding paper cranes
• Internet access

Background for Teachers

Teachers will want to preview the article. Teachers will want to practice making origami in order to clearly instruct and help students. Teachers may want to extend this and integrate it into a school wide activity.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Students will examine the effects of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
• Students will explore how interactions between places may change over time.
• Students will apply geographic concepts to interpret the present and plan for the future.
• Students will consider how individuals may affect people and places.

Instructional Procedures

1. Brainstorm with students what they understand about the US-Japan relations during WWII.
   1. What do students understand about what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945?
   2. Briefly review the history that lead to the US bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
   3. Ask students to identify what the consequences of the bombings might have been. Chart responses.
2. Introduce the article, "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes"
   1. Have students read the article silently to themselves
   2. When students are finished reading the article, have them reflect on their thoughts independently for about 5-10 minutes by considering the following questions: " How was the world changed by the events that took place in Japan on August 6, 1945?"
3. Conduct a whole class discussion about the article students read
   1. How does this article offer a different perception of what happened in Hiroshima?
   2. Why is understanding different perceptions important when studying historical events?
   3. How can knowing Sadako's story help promote peace in our schools, neighborhoods, communities, country, and world?
4. Instruct students in making origami cranes symbolizing their commitment to lead peaceful lives.
5. In preparation of visiting the "Ceremonies" exhibit, assign students to research the concept of Sister City. Return to class with the following questions answered:
   1. What is a sister city?
   2. What cities in the world are sister cities of Salt Lake City? What countries are they located in?
   3. What other cities in the United States have sister cities outside the US? What are they?
   4. What are some advantages to maintaining these sister city relationships?