WW2: Wings of the Crane

 

 

wings

WW2

 

Wings of the Crane Part One

In Japanese, Chinese, and Korean tradition, cranes stand for good fortune, peace, and longevity because of its fabled life span of a thousand years. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane. A common wish we hear people say is for world peace. In this first section of our fascinating series students and staff will explore a small portion of World War Two, learn how folding paper led one girl to become an international heroine, discuss what we can do to change the world, come to understand the impact of a decision, play a few [math] war games. They’ll also discover that Manhattan is more than just a part of New York, measure the invisible, learn about a physicist who was afraid of the floor, solve some mysteries, and find out that you can’t trust an atom, they make up everything! 
And perhaps, as we learn about our past, we can affect the future, so that someday the world will find peace, under the wings of the crane.

Sadako Sasaki Powerpointww2

Wings of the Crane Part Two


As we dive deeper atoms give students the warm fuzzies and they learn that your teeth aren’t the only thing that can decay when there is candy, actually ‘Candium,’ around! Then we’ll go on an adventure that’ll let us say we’ve ‘gone fission!’ with over 300 mousetraps, a few ping pong balls, a little rubbing alcohol, and a droplet or two of oil. It’s no fish story, it’s the truth! Students will test out the domino effect in a nuclear reactor and learn to ‘shut the box’ as fast as they can! It’s a good thing to practice when it’s time to face Nuclear Clams and they have to do a little Fast Fission!

Wings of the Crane Part Three

 

In this wild ride about what’s deep inside, deep inside a nuclear reactor that is, students get to pile on their knowledge, find out where a giant is buried, and get a taste of power. Moving on they’ll find about action and reactions with nuclear marbles, learn some moves from Manhattan, learn it’s not delivery…actually it is! And learn a lot more than lyrics when they say, ‘You dropped a bomb on me!’ A helmet will come in handy since we’ll be building up a good head of steam during (and after) debating if we should preserve the past…or let it remain buried, forever.

 

Lesson Links & Resources Part One

Coroner’s Report: Atomic Bomb http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/trinity-test/videos/atomic-bomb  (3 min) TV-14 (May not be appropriate for younger or more sensitive students.)

Hiroshima:  Ground Zero 1945 http://vimeo.com/24030100  or at http://www.icp.org/museum/exhibitions/hiroshima-ground-zero-1945 After the United States detonated an atomic bomb at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the U.S. government restricted the circulation of images of the bomb's deadly effect. President Truman dispatched some 1,150 military personnel and civilians, including photographers, to record the destruction as part of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey. The goal of the Survey's Physical Damage Division was to photograph and analyze methodically the impact of this new weapon, the atomic bomb, on various building materials surrounding the blast site, the first "Ground Zero." The haunting, once-classified images of absence and annihilation formed the basis for civil defense architecture in the United States. This exhibition includes approximately 60 contact prints drawn from a unique archive of more than 700 photographs in the collection of the International Center of Photography. The exhibition is organized Erin Barnett, Assistant Curator of Collections.
Watch 6 short clips from the excellent BBC Documentary Hiroshima & Nagasaki, available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jS4muIxFkw&list=PL3FB5BBB3C71306BF

  • Testing the atomic bomb and destroying lives in Japan: The first ever atomic bomb testing left the scientists not only amazed, but also apprehensive about the nature of the beast they had created. Video from BBC Worldwide. Note: Robert Oppenheimer, the Supervising Scientist of the Manhattan Project who has been called "the father of the atomic bomb," quoted these words from the poetry of the Bhagavad-Gita, after watching the first detonation of a nuclear weapon.’

If the radiance of a thousand suns
Were to burst at once into the sky
That would be like the splendor of the Mighty One ...
I am become Death,
The Destroyer of Worlds.
—Bhagavad-Gita

  • Truman's ultimatum regarding Hiroshima: Japanese soldiers and civilians alike are being trained to attack American troops. Truman offers a fateful ultimatum at the Potsdam conference - All hope of reconciliation seems lost.
  • Hiroshima: Dropping the Bomb: Hear first-hand accounts from the air and ground, re-telling every memory from the day the world first witnessed the horrors of atomic warfare.
  • US troops preparing to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima: In the final briefing, American troops are told this will just be another day, another bombing. Soon enough, however, the event causes a media storm. Hear first-hand accounts from the crew that flew the atom bomb to Japan in this clip from the BBC.
  • Atomic bombing of Nagasaki: Accounts of the American justification for dropping a second bomb in Nagasaki (40,000 more immediate deaths, 40,000 additional slow deaths by the end of the year.)
  • Remembering the tragic aftermath of the Hiroshima bomb: In this moving clip Hiroshima residents talk through their first memories after the bomb had fallen.I

Versions of Sadako’s Story

Just how small is an atom?
The following fun fascinating and fast-paced animation uses spectacular metaphors (imagine a blueberry the size of a football stadium!) to give a visceral (deep and instinctual) sense of the building blocks that make our world.
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/just-how-small-is-an-atom 

And just for some amazing fascinating fun, A Boy And His Atom - The World's Smallest Movie  http://vimeo.com/65244953  At IBM research they move atoms to explore the limits of data storage. To explore the limits of filmmaking, they decided to use atoms to make the world’s smallest movie! It was made by moving actual atoms, frame by frame! The ripples are the clouds of electrons on the copper surface influenced by the energy of the carbon dioxide molecules. Then, watch how they did it with this short and fascinating behind the scenes documentary to meet the scientists and see how they did it! Moving Atoms: Making The World's Smallest Movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA4QWwaweWA

 

Lesson Links and Resources Part Twoww2

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: The Particle Adventure! 
Fundamentals of Matter and Force helps learners get a clearer understanding and visual explanations of particle decay. 
http://particleadventure.org/decays-and-annihilations.html

Gone Fission?
excellent short [2:45] video: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/nvhe_vid_fission/

See a fun (and slo-mo) variation at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqIJW_Qr3c An array of 138 mousetraps are set off in a chain reaction. Ping-pong balls help visualize both neutrons and the release of energy in a nuclear bomb. Shot in 600 fps and 1000 fps. 
900 Mousetraps Unleashed with Science Bob on Jimmy Kimmel Live: This demonstration utilized 900 mousetraps that were set-up for a chain reaction. It took 4 people 7 hours to set up the traps! As far as we know there has not been a similar reaction at this scale. The demonstration visualizes how nuclear fission, Newton's Laws, and potential and kinetic energy work.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIvHd76EdQ4 
Flash game Nuclear Power Plant Simulator help solidify understanding of how a nuclear power plant works.http://esa2

 

Lesson Links and Resources Part Three

Chicago Pile: Once again, for help during discussion and to show the actual scientists who worked on the project speaking about it have students watch the video at: http://ztopics.com/Chicago%20Pile-1/

Explanations, Guides, Images, & Videos on how to play marbles
http://www.landofmarbles.com/marbles-play.html 
Or,  http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Marbles

Origami Samurai Helmet
Using a square of origami, newspaper, or brown paper bag material, etc, have students follow the instructional video at http://videos.kidspot.com.au/videos/lhyet7ft/how-to-make-an-origami-samurai-helmet

Power Up!
In this online game, learners must purchase power plants for their city. They must balance the need for adequate power against the environmental impact of different power plants and stay within their limited budget. The game introduces many kinds of power plants to choose from (oil, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, hydro). Since the game only shows a random selection of three of these power sources at a time, the game changes each time they play. 
Have students go to: http://www.kineticcity.com/controlcar/activity.php?act=4&virus=enervia

Wings of the Crane- Unit Four

In this fun continuation of our series we find out why Bert the Turtle wants us to duck and cover, find out the fallout of nuclear testing, peel back the layers and figure out which side of the bread we need to spread butter. (The bottom of course! The top? Oh you nutter!) We cross into the lands of imagination to see what was on the minds of a nation and learn how a single day changed the score and sent the U.S. from ‘on the brink’ to ‘at war!’ We build our own unsinkable ships with ballast that helps with rises and dips. Then we finish up with a fun pyramid battle—where we wait with bated breath when we hear the dice rattle!

Accompanying lesson powerpoint

Wings of the Crane- Unit Five

What happens when allies argue? Plans go amuck! In this adventurous unit students follow the clock and follow the clues, learn of the numbers, and follow some interesting shoes as they explore the past and learn lessons anew. They’ll hide Battleships learn to take Risks like leaders of old. [War. It’s still hit or miss!] They’ll implement strategy and defend what they’ve got. It will take courage and skill (of which they have a lot!) They’ll build a cool Bedford and follow instructions to make paper armies and defend from destruction! And then near the end, we’ll sing ration blues, travel through time, and discover the battle for food! And then we’ll learn how America discovered new things that taste good! (And take a snap crackle taste test of the past!) Jump into part five, you’ll have a blast!

Truck Template by Papermau

Wings of the Crane- Unit Six

In this section students go retro as we explore what it was like to live long before! Victory through Vegetables? Can it be done?  During this time period carrots were weapons of war, tires were rationed, and getting gas? Well, you got three or four gallons a week, no more. Next, they’ll figure out what’s really at risk as they take up the challenge they picked from a list! To risk it all and earn major points, or take the sure bet? That’s a tough choice! (Their toughest one yet?) Then, hey look up there! It’s planes flying high, made of canvas, paper, and plywood filled with brave hearts and sharp eyes. Students get to fly planes like heroines of old, and use their wits against foes cunning and bold! And speaking of cunning and using your wits do they think they can crack codes tough as a nut and send messages back? They learn of un-crackable codes and brave men, who hid in the jungle and saved lives again and again. Then they make a coding machine, master their minds, play bulls and cows, and have a great deciphering time!

Navajo Code Talkers Accompanying Powerpoint

 

Relevant Links for Unit Fourplane

Duck And Cover (1951) Bert the Turtle Civil Defense Film 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60

The Butter Battle Book
See a one minute “live-action preview” for the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQWCtzdEC5g 
The full movie is available at YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5FR_cuQsrc  , SchoolTube http://www.schooltube.com/video/bf8b526c80c54176bc32/  or search for it online.

Time Enough At Last This Twilight Zone episode (The Twilight Zone S01 E08) is an excellent tool for showing students the fear that the American public felt about a possible nuclear war with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It's a perfect fit when discussing the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, or the effects of nuclear weapons. Students often love this episode because of the classic ending—Burgess Meredith's glasses break and he is doomed to a life without his beloved books. This episode often stirs a lot of discussion afterward—leave it to Rod Serling to gain the full attention of the class! http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi2883299097/ 
(Also available on Amazon.com if you have Amazon Prime)

The Shelter (The Twilight Zone S03 E03) is another excellent example of the fear of nuclear attack in America. This episode, zeroed in on the greatest postwar fear, the threat of nuclear war, depicting suburban neighbors at a dinner party who, after hearing a radio warning that bombing was imminent, degenerate, Lord of The Flies - like, into a raging mob clawing each other over access to the lone fallout shelter—the host’s. http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi2749081369/?ref_=tt_ov_vi (Also available on Amazon.com if you have Amazon Prime)

Pyramid Battle
This is a great game to get kids active and use math skills! Students battle one on one as they roll the dice to get the higher number. If they get the higher number they advance to the next level. If they win the championship level, their team gets a point.
Watch the very clear explanation video with rules, tips, instructions, diagrams, and variations on how to play at the following link: http://www.peuniverse.com/Videos/detail.cfm?post_id=819

Links for Unit Five

Have students watch this 1942 newsreel that shows the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the S.S. Normandie fire at a New York City pier (from the Prelinger Archive, Libary of Congress) http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1313122074001_2101696,00.html
Have students explore the fascinating and interactive Remembering Pearl Harbor: Pearl Harbor Attack Map from National Geographic Education: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/multimedia/interactive/pearl-harbor/?ar_a=1

How to play Risk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-r0HknkghE

PaperMau’s Bedford (truck with boxes) assembly: Link To Photo Instructions:  WW2.Truck.Bedford.by.Papermau.Instructions
A Time-Lapse Map of Every Nuclear Explosion Since 1945 - by Isao Hashimoto "2053" - This is the number of nuclear explosions conducted in various parts of the globe.* Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto has mapped each detonation that rocked the Earth until 1998 and transformed it into a frightening and hypnotizing 14-minute video clip to show the ‘folly’ of nuclear arms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCF7vPanrY  (It is also available on other sites if you search for it, and is available in a slightly less but still impactful and soundless 3x faster version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W_lLhBt8Vg for those with limited time.)

Jazz musician Louis Jordan was one of those who had fun with rationing when he wrote "Ration Blues." Listen to him play and sing it at the following link: http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/movies/music_life_08.html

 

 Links for Unit Six

Paper Planes
Tip: For more amazing planes for students to build (including a model Flying Tiger), check out the free Paper models, templates, instructions, printables, construction guides and tips,  & historical restorations by Phil Koopman Sr at http://users.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/airplanes/ 
For an advanced origami model check out the video instructions on how to fold a WW2 fighter jet from a single piece of paper at:http://www.theairplaneguy.org/gallery.php

To read more about  Nadezhda Popova’s incredible story, visit http://nyti.ms/JbnOMC or search for her online.

World War Games: Plane Play
Battle of Britain: 303 Squadron
Once students have made reproduction planes, why not have students play the beautifully constructed Battle of Britain: 303 Squadron game at  http://www.channel4.com/programmes/battle-of-britain-303-squadron. The Battle of Britain was when the German Luftwaffe (planes) attacked Britain and the Royal Airforce (RAF) fought back and won! The 303 Squadron was made up of Polish pilots and they helped Britain  win the Battle of Britain against the Germans. In this game, students take control of the heroic Polish airmen of the RAF during World War II and play with or against other students in multiplayer mode.

And/Or Strafe!
Fly for five participating air forces and climb behind the controls of over 30 different aircraft. Work together with your wing men and fight the Battle of Britain, participate in the invasion at Normandy and move deep into the heart of the Reich.
Strafe is the aerial combat game packed with non-stop action. Use all your cunning, tactics and skills to overcome wave after wave of incoming enemy aircraft including famous aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire, Messerschmitt BF109, North-American Mustang, Douglas DC3 Dacota and the very first jet fighters to ever see action.
Supported by original historical footage Strafe explains all the actual areal events of the western front during the Second World War. Watch your six and learn what is meant by “Always outnumbered but NEVER outgunned!”
http://freecoolmathgames.com/action/strafe-ww2-western-front/

Make your own wallet-sized Code Machine by Paul Gardner-Stephen (printable PDFs)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-wallet-sized-Enigmatm-like- Machine/step2/Getting-Started/ 
More advanced encryption method: (http://www.instructables.com/file/FDG5IBQG145SURM)  Note that in that photo the rotors are set to position "AAA".

Unit 7

In this part of our adventure upon the wings of the crane we learn what happens when you release the dogs of war and how American pets became American vets while folding our own portable pups. Discover what happened to citizens’ rights when a whole nation got the ‘frights’ and how appearance sometimes does mean everything. We get defensive and take a stand as we debate the pros and cons of the rights and of the wrongs of the things that have gone on. And learn how going to camp wasn’t always for summer fun. Then get artful and thoughtful and create portraits of eyes behind wires and then see if we’re as fit as the GI’s of WW2 were desired. And when we’re done with our relay there’s a game we’ll play. A game worth 1,000 worksheets!

Unit 8

In this final segment it’s time to become tellers of tales and weavers of words, after all, there are many tales to be told, scribed in lines both soft-spoken and bold. Students explore the artistry of poems of war, and the messages of poets of peace before crafting their own haiku to convey all the fun to be had when playing in a peaceful world where we all live under the wings of the crane. Then they delve back in the past and become muckrakers, exposing the pressing problems and incredible change that occurred in America during WW2 at the invitation of a president to work together and craft an incredible newspaper that tells the tales of a time of turmoil. A time that’s now both very familiar, and still a little strange. The era of WW2, bringer of change.

 

Links for Unit 7

Semper Fido, a fascinating and informative podcast, from This American Life by Susan Orlean: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/480/animal-sacrifice
Web extra: here is a military dog use training video, and here is a War Department Film Bulletin, called "Use of War Dogs." (No sound on that second one.)  
Find more exercises from the 1946 War Department Field manual at:

The Game That’s Worth a Thousand Worksheets
http://letsplaymath.net/2006/12/29/the-game-that-is-worth-1000-worksheets/

Links for variations resources:
My Closest Neighbor—Instead of turning up cards at random, each player draws a hand of five cards. Then turn up a target card such as “Closest to 1/2″ and try to make a fraction from two cards in your hand that will be near the target but not equal to it. Chris posted a set of printable target cards at her blog. The game has been modified for regular playing cards here: Fraction Game: My Closest Neighbor.
Logarithm War—Requires a special deck of cards. Download from Kate’s blog: This Game Really Is Worth 1000 Worksheets in doc or pdf format.
Logs and Trig War—Jim extended Kate’s logarithm war to include trig functions. Double the cards, double the fun! Download from Jim’s blog: War: what is it good for?

Links for Unit 8

Genbaku Shoujo - Little Girl Of HiroshimafromHugo Johnsonhttp://vimeo.com/18851536  or at http://www.hugojohnson.net/69544/265285/motion/genbaku-shoujo-little-girl-of-hiroshima

Newspaper Project Important Links:
Sample Online Newspaper Created by an Instructor:
http://monthlymoose.weebly.com/work-in-early-america.html

Option: Have students use the following links as a place to start to help assist them in gathering information for writing their articles. They are separated according to each article that is required to be included in the newspaper. Students (or the group, if working with younger students and creating a whole class paper) will be responsible for reading through this information and selecting the parts that best apply to their article topics.

Article 1: Pearl Harbor Attack and Reasons for US Entry Into the War

Article 2: US Mobilization for War

Article 3: Women in the War Effort

Article 4: The Contributions of Navajo Code Talkers

Article 5: Contributions of the 442nd Infantry Regiment

Article 6: Contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen

Article 7: Rationing

Article 8: Japanese Internment

Research Links for Unit 8

 

Crisis Brings Change- Woman-Wartime Industries

Jumping to Conclusions- Alternatives to dropping the bombs

Impounded- From Citizen to Enemy