The Vietnam War is one of the most divisive moments in US history and because of this, many educators experience difficulty teaching it in their classrooms. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund provides teachers with robust education materials to help students learn about the lasting impact of the Vietnam War, while reinforcing history, civic engagement, writing, and other interdisciplinary skills.
The War and The Wall is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s comprehensive high-school level curriculum on the Vietnam war and era. This curriculum is available free of charge and comes complete with background readings, in-class and extension activities tied to national learning standards, and lecture presentations incorporating primary source audio and video that can be presented in the classroom. Sets include:
SOCIAL: Evolution of the Draft, Protests Against War, Film & War, Music & War
MILITARY: Social Makeup of Forces, Medical Advances, Ongoing Toll on Veterans
MEDIA: News Stories of Vietnam, War on the Homefront
POLITICS: How War Is Initiated, Motivations for US Involvement, Coalitions in Wartime, Withdrawal From Vietnam, Legacy of War in Vietnam
Explore The War and The Wall Curriculum Sets
A major goal of the Hometown Heroes Service Learning Project is to collect photos and stories of those veterans whose names are on The Wall and those who returned home from the Vietnam War. Students will have an opportunity to learn about local veterans who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War, as well as other military conflicts in our nation’s history. They will hear personal stories from veterans and their loved ones; and they will have an opportunity to plan a commemoration to honor their Hometown Heroes. Through this project, history will be given a human face.
The Hometown Heroes Service Learning Project includes four (4) major lesson plans: *
Remembering Those Who Sacrificed encourages students to learn more about local veterans whose names are on The Wall by researching their biographical information, gathering photos, and identifying them by hometown or locality.
Preserving Veterans’ Personal Stories encourages students to preserve the oral histories of local veterans who served in all of our nation’s military conflicts through research and personal interviews.
Commemorating Our Veterans encourages students to volunteer in their community or plan a ceremony honoring local veterans to coincide with Memorial Day or Veterans Day.
Understanding Healing Through Memorials encourages teachers and students to take a field trip to The Wall in Washington, D.C., visit The Wall That Heals (a traveling three-quarter scale replica of The Wall), or visit a local war memorial.
*Lesson plans align with Common Core Standards Initiative, including the College and Career readiness Standards (CCRA) and the National Learning Standards.
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Digital Experience
Embark on a digital experience with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and learn more about the history of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, artifacts left behind, and items that American service members used during the Vietnam War. Classes are free and available to students of all ages including adult learners and senior centers. For more information or to set up a class email [email protected]
The Wall That Heals
Your class, school, or organization can host The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of The Wall and a mobile Education Center designed to “bring The Wall home” to communities throughout our country. Since its dedication, The Wall That Heals has visited more than 400 cities and towns throughout the nation, spreading the Memorial’s healing legacy to millions.
TEACHING THE VIETNAM WAR AND ERA FACEBOOK GROUP
Get access to new resources and share content with other educators on our Facebook group: Teaching the Vietnam War and Era.
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Speaker’s Bureau
Are you a veteran interested in educating future generations about the impact of the Vietnam war and era? Download a copy of VVMF’s The War and The Wall speakers bureau guidelines and contact schools in your community to teach the lessons in the classroom!
Download The War and The Wall Speakers Bureau GuidelinesContent Advisory Committee
VVMF’s Content Advisory Committee is comprised of historians and experts in teaching who can guide VVMF’s education programs and materials. Their primary goal is help craft a concise and compelling narrative of the Vietnam War.
Meet the Advisory CommitteeOutside Resources
View suggested web, film, and book resources on teaching the history and legacy of the Vietnam War.
Explore the Resources