History project Ideas

I need help, a requirement for me to graduate at my high school is to do this big project that relates to a future career choicer, for it I have chosen to teach a U.S. History class of Juniors. I was talking to my mentor who is the teacher of that class, and he said by the time i do my project there curriculum will be in the Vietnam/Nixon era.

I need ideas on a project i can do with the class, because just doing an outline like the teacher does would just be boring for the judging panelists to hear about.

thanks in advance

 

Why not do some research that Nixon's Presidency had on the conflict in Vietnam? You could do something interesting with that I bet.

 

Try a hands-on project for those Juniors. Try have 'em make a plastic model tank or aircraft or two from that era and see what they learn from it. Every plastic model has a history of the model included. Who knows? some of those students may learn more if they like the military and stuff. If that doesn't work, make a bet with them, say you give them 100 bucks or you do pushups if they don't pass the test. (not recommended) Maybe you could make a movie or powerpoint like LRusso said, or just wing it and cross your fingers. Either way, the attention span of some Juniors are as short as a kindergardener's but keep it interesting enough and you may be lucky. I may be a high school freshman in a different state, but I get the general idea. Who knows? If you can grab their attention in like, say, a hands-on activity then you may be in the clear. Below, I give you five examples of a project to do with the class:

Example #1: Multimedia Explanation: Try have them make a multimedia presentation about Nixon or Vietnam and then explain it to you. Creativity is unlimited as long as it relates in some way to 'Nam or Nixon. Presentations would be graded on historical accuracy, length, etc.

Example #2: Time Capsule: Students will choose ten items to place in a box or bag that relates to Vietnam or Nixon. The students will then explain why they chose those items and how it relates.

Example #3: Case Study: Student will get into a group and choose a side for the Vietnam war. They will have to explain why they chose that side and the overall situation in Vietnam.

Example #4: Model History: Students will make a diorama of a scene in the Vietnam War. The diorama must include at least one vehicle and two or three people such as infantry or the crew of an aircraft carrier. Any model smaller than 1:72 scale does not need models such as infantry, just more vehicles. All models in the diorama must be in the same scale, year, nation, branch, squadron (optional), and in an accurate location in the Vietnam War (example: A 1:700 scale diorama of the USS Enterprise operating off the coast providing close air support or US infantry and tanks in a shootout with the Viet Kong. Students will have to explain the diorama such as the type of vehicle, the year, the scale, and any other detail.

Example #5: Strategy Analysis: Students will analyze the strategies of both sides of the Vietnam War and explain them in a multimedia presentation or an essay.

Personally, I would choose #4, but its your choice. It's sink or swim now. I hope you swim.


Good Luck.

 

You have received some fine answers, might I suggest that you might wish to use a few statistics to take the "wind out of the sails" of common myths concerning the Vietnam war. Including the one that it was fought mostly by black draftees. It wasn’t.
27 million men came of draft age from 1964 to 1972 ( was one of them, I enlisted in the USN)

Total draftees (1965-1973): 1,728,344

Actually served in Vietnam: 38%

25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees (In WWII, 67% were draftees; 33% were volunteers)

Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam

88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian: 10.6% (275,000) were African-American; 1% belonged to other races

86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) were African-American; 1.2% belonged to other races

86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were African-American; 1.1% belonged to other races

14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among African-Americans

34% of African-Americans who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms

Overall, African-Americans suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of African-Americans of military age was 13.5% of the total population

Goto:

Vietnam War Statistics

It appears that statistically the African-American served and were wounded and killed at a comparatively equal ratio to their numbers in civilian life. All who served, whether drafted or volunteer deserve respect but not a mis-placed "martyrdom" for someone else's political agenda.

 

wow thanks guys for the ideas, and information this should help immensely.