TeachRock

Motivational Activity:

1. Pass out Handout – “I Served in Vietnam. Here’s My Soundtrack.” Have students read the article aloud as a class, in small groups, or individually. Then ask students to clarify the “5Ws”:
   • What is the document?
   • Who wrote the article?
   • When was the article published in The New York Times?
   • Why was it published?
   • Where did the information come from?
2. Conduct a Think, Pair, Square, Share activity with students. Arrange students in pairs, and instruct pairs to discuss the article and take notes in a set amount of time. Then, pair one group of students with another, creating groups of four. Ask each pair within that group to share what they discussed while the other takes notes. Then, have the group of four students develop a presentation for the rest of the class.

Procedure:

1. Divide students again into pairs. Tell students that as a class they will be watching video clips from the “Kent State and the Vietnam War” episode of the CNN Soundtracks series and analyzing lyrics to certain songs heard in each clip in pairs.
2. Pass out Handout – Song Lyrics Analysis to each pair. Ask each pair to meet and fill out Part 1 on page 1 of the handout.
3. Play Clip 1 – “The Ballad of the Green Berets.” Instruct pairs to complete the lyric analysis for the song by filling out Part 2 on page 1 of the handout. Have each pair share their analysis with the whole class. Once completed, ask students:
   • How might people supportive of U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War interpret this song? What about people opposed to the war? 
   • The pro-war side used this song to bolster their efforts to attract more people to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. What about this song and its lyrics might encourage people to enlist?
   • How might you react to this song if you volunteered to enlist for military service in the war?
   • How might you react to this song if you were subject to being drafted for military service in the war? (“Draft”, formally known as conscription, is a long-standing U.S. government policy compelling adult-aged males to enroll for military service. During the Vietnam War era and prior to the current all-volunteer status of the U.S. Armed Forces, it meant enrollees could possibly be ordered to serve in the Vietnam War.)
   • Can you guess the percentage of people that volunteered to serve in the military during the Vietnam War? (About seventy-five percent of those serving in the Vietnam War were volunteers. However, with the possibility of being conscripted into service, many eligible men chose to volunteer to serve in order to have more choice in the division of the military they served in.)
4. Pass out Handout – “For protecting their right, to say things that are wrong.” Have students read the article aloud as a class, in small groups, or individually, then ask:
   • What is the author’s point of view in this article?
   • Who is the intended audience?
   • How does this handout relate to the lyrics and message of “The Ballad of the Green Berets”?
5. Play Clip 2 – “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” Then ask students:
   • Are you familiar with this song? If so, how are you familiar with it?
   • How would you describe the song to someone?
   • Why might the song have been popular with those serving in the military during the Vietnam War?
   • How did Nancy Sinatra’s attitude about the war evolve as a result of her visits?
   • Can you support the troops while protesting the war? In what ways?
   • How did the resulting tension between Nancy and her father, Frank Sinatra, a major celebrity for the older generation, reflect the generational divide in the country? 
   • How might a hit song contribute to and nurture a common experience shared by service people overseas and civilians at home?
6. Pass out Handout – “A Letter to My Wife.” Have students read the article aloud as a class, in small groups, or individually, then ask:
   • How can a personal correspondence provide insight into an experience? 
   • Why might writing letters home be important to someone serving in the military overseas?
   • What details about the author’s experience in Vietnam are discussed?
   • How does the author feel about his experience?
7. Pass out Handout – “The Meatgrinder.” Have students read the article aloud as a class, in small groups, or individually, and instruct them to highlight any terms that are not understood. Then ask students:
   • What was the author’s purpose of writing this reflection?
   • What details about the author’s experience in Vietnam are discussed?
   • How does the author feel about his experience?
   • How might this account of the horrors of war build personal empathy for all of those involved?
8. Play Clip 3 – “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Then ask students:
   • What specific lyrics in the song may have contributed to it becoming a universally acknowledged anthem for many U.S. military personnel serving in Vietnam during the war?
   • Comparing the experiences described in “The Meatgrinder” to this song’s main message, how do they inform and affect your opinions, attitudes, and feelings about war?
9. Play Clip 4 – Music and Black Servicemen, taken from the Smithsonian film The Black G.I., which presents interviews with Black soldiers in Vietnam. Ask students:
   • What particular difficulties did these servicemen experience when trying to listen to the music they preferred in Vietnam? Would you say their “Soundtrack” to the war was censored?
   • In what ways did the racism common in the U.S. affect Black service members in Vietnam? What specific examples did those interviewed give?
   • How did military leadership respond to their demands to be able to listen to Soul music?
   • In what ways might the fight over music in Vietnam represent greater issues of racism and discrimination that affected Black service members and civilians?
   • James Brown performed for U.S. troops in June 1968, shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1968, Brown released his hit single “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”. In the context of this video, how do you imagine he was received by service members?
10. Ask students to retrieve the Song Lyrics Analysis handout, and fill out Part 1 of the page 3 of the handout.
11. Play Clip 5 – “Born in the U.S.A.” Instruct students to reconvene as pairs to complete the lyric analysis for the song by filling out Part 2 on page 3 of the handout. Have each pair share their analysis with the whole class.

Summary Activity:

1. Pass out Handout – “The Bitter Homecoming.” Have students read the article aloud as a class, in small groups, or individually, then ask:
   • How does this handout relate to the lyrics and message of “Born in the U.S.A.” and all of the songs heard?
   • How might you describe the veteran’s experience after returning home from the Vietnam War?
   • What happened during the Vietnam veteran’s reunion in Washington, D.C.?
   • How did the reunion affect the author?
   • Did the event provide any resolution to the author’s experience of serving in the Vietnam War?

Extension Activities:

1. Explore TeachRock’s companion lesson, “Musical Reactions to the Vietnam War” to support an expanded examination of this tumultuous period in U.S. History.
2. Explore the Vietnam Veterans Memorial either in-person in Washington, D.C. or via the memorial’s website. In particular, note the virtual Wall of Faces page that is “dedicated to honoring and remembering every person whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial” and its commitment “to finding a photo to go with each of the more than 58,000 names on The Wall. The Wall of Faces allows family and friends to share memories, post pictures and connect with each other.” (Please note that these are offsite websites that you may want to load prior to class.)
3. Community Open House with American Vietnam Veterans and Student-Led Panel Discussion. While there is much to learn from artifacts, documents, songs, and videos, the greatest resource resides in our communities – grandfathers and grandmothers, mothers and fathers, family members and friends who lived the experience we are examining. An 18 year old service member in 1965 is now in their 70s. Welcome these veterans and affected family and friends into our classroom community, listen to them as they share about their experiences, and then engage with thoughtful conversation about what they experienced.
   • Have students brainstorm, plan, and implement the open house, including a student-led discussion panel.
   • Begin by inviting veteran family members of students in your classroom and expand to family members of other students in the school.
   • Provide them with a website link to view the Soundtracks episode prior to the event for a basis of conversation during the student-led panel discussion.
   • Welcome them to your school and classroom, acknowledge their service, emphasize gratitude and appreciation while honoring the visiting veterans and their affected family and friends.
   • Have students ask questions from a student-led panel discussion. Questions should include, but are not limited to, the following:
     • Was their experience accurately depicted in the Soundtracks episode?
     • What music did they listening to during the Vietnam War?
     • What music are they listening to now?
     • How did they feel when they returned home from the war? 
     • What lessons can be learned from the war?
   • After you’ve had them in your class one time, invite them back.

Handout – “A Letter to My Wife” Handout – “For protecting their right, to say things that are wrong.” Handout – “I Served in Vietnam. Here’s My Soundtrack” Handout – “The Bitter Homecoming” Handout – “The Meatgrinder” Handout – Song Lyric Analysis

Common Core State Standards

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

Reading 1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

Reading 2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Craft and Structure 4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

Craft and Structure 6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 8: Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 10: Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing

Text Types and Purposes 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

Production and Distribution of Writing 4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Research to Build and Present Knowledge 7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language

Language 1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Language 2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Language 3: Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listing.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 5:  Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in a word meaning.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening

Comprehension & Collaboration 1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Comprehension & Collaboration 2: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Comprehension & Collaboration 3: Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

Presentation of Knowledge 4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies – National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

Theme 1: Culture

Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change

Theme 3: People, Place, and Environments

Theme 4: Individual Development and Identity

Theme 5: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

Theme 6: Power, Authority, and Governance

Theme 9: Global Connections

Theme 10: Civic Ideals and Practices

National Standards for Music Education – National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

Core Music Standard: Responding

Interpret: Support interpretations of musical works that reflect creators’ and/or performers’ expressive intent.

Evaluate: Support evaluations of musical works and performances based on analysis, interpretation, and established criteria.

Core Music Standard: Connecting

Connecting 11: Relate musical ideas and works to varied contexts and daily life to deepen understanding.

Career Technical Education Standards (California Model) – Arts, Media and Entertainment Pathway Standards

Design, Visual and Media Arts (A)

• A1.0 Demonstrate ability to reorganize and integrate visual art elements across digital media and design applications.
  A1.4  Select industry-specific works and analyze the intent of the work and the appropriate use of media.
  A1.5  Research and analyze the work of an artist or designer and how the artist’s distinctive style contributes to their industry production.
  A1.9  Analyze the material used by a given artist and describe how its use influences the meaning of the work.
  A3.0 Analyze and assess the impact of history and culture on the development of professional arts and media products. 

  A3.2  Describe how the issues of time, place, and cultural influence and are reflected in a variety of artistic products.
  A3.3  Identify contemporary styles and discuss the diverse social, economic, and political developments reflected in art work in an industry setting.
  A3.4  Identify art in international industry and discuss ways in which the work reflects cultural perspective.
  A3.5  Analyze similarities and differences of purpose in art created in culturally diverse industry applications.
  A3.6  Investigate and discuss universal concepts expressed in visual media products from diverse cultures.
  A4.0 Analyze, assess, and identify effectiveness of artistic products based on elements of art, the principles of design, and professional industry standards.
  A4.2  Deconstruct how beliefs, cultural traditions, and current social, economic, and political contexts influence commercial media (traditional and electronic).
  A4.3  Analyze the aesthetic value of a specific commercial work of art and defend that analysis from an industry perspective.
  A4.5  Analyze and articulate how society influences the interpretation and effectiveness of an artistic product.
  A5.0 Identify essential industry competencies, explore commercial applications and develop a career specific personal plan.
  A5.1  Compare and contrast the ways in which different artistic media (television, newspapers, magazines, and electronic media) cover the same commercial content.
  A5.2  Explore the role of art and design across various industry sectors and content areas.
  A5.3  Deconstruct works of art, identifying psychological content found in the symbols and images and their relationship to industry and society.
  A5.6  Prepare portfolios of original art created for a variety of purposes and commercial applications.
  A5.7  Synthesize traditional art work and new technologies to design an artistic product to be used by a specific industry. 


Performing Arts (B)

• B2.0 Read, listen to, deconstruct, and analyze peer and professional music using the elements and terminology of music.
  B2.2  Describe how the elements of music are used.
  B2.5  Analyze and describe significant musical events perceived and remembered in a given industry generated example.
  B2.6  Analyze and describe the use of musical elements in a given professional work that makes it unique, interesting, and expressive.
  B7.0 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of multiple industry performance products from a discipline-specific perspective.
  B7.1  Identify and compare how film, theater, television, and electronic media productions influence values and behaviors.
  B7.3  Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of the musician in the professional setting.
  B7.5  Create a product comparing and contrasting universal themes and sociopolitical issues in a variety of music, dance, or theatrical products.