Teacher's Guide: Suggestions for Active Learning
The film The Living Weapon and this companion Web site offer insights into topics in American history including military strategy, scientific discovery, issues in wrapping up the end of World War II and the beginnings of the Cold War, principles of pacifism, and the desire to keep government programs secret from the general public. You can use part or all of the film, or delve into the rich resources available on this Web site to learn more, either in a classroom or on your own.
The following activities are grouped into 4 categories: history, civics, science, and ethics. You can also read a few helpful hints for completing the activities.
History | Civics | Science | Ethics
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Architects of "biowar." How different -- or similar -- did the complex issues raised by biological weapons appear to the three men who played large roles in their countries' biological weapons programs: Paul Fildes in Britain, Ira Baldwin in the United States, and Shiro Ishii in Japan? Divide the class into four groups, three to represent each of the three individuals, and one to act as the interviewer. The interviewer group should prepare a series of questions for the three men, such as how they became involved in biological weapons research, why they thought it was important for their country to conduct this research at that time, what their work accomplished, and what limitations (if any) they would place on the actual use of biological weapons. The remaining three groups should then prepare answers for each of these questions.
When the groups are ready, use these materials to stage a mock interview between a single interviewer and students representing each of the three individuals. Imagine that the interview is taking place in 1945, shortly after the end of World War II.
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WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) on the big screen. Fears related to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons have inspired many movies, including Godzilla (where the monster was created by a nuclear test) and other science-fiction classics. Working with a partner, find an example of such a movie, and present your choice to your teacher for approval. Once your selection has been approved, watch the film with your partner.
As you view the film, note the role of weapons of mass destruction in it -- did they help create the problem, or are they used to fight it? Does the film directly or indirectly criticize governments for developing weapons of mass destruction? Does the film end on a hopeful or gloomy note regarding humanity's future in a world where such weapons exist?
Each team should present its findings briefly to the class. As the presentations are made, construct a timeline that lists each film and the year in which it was released. When all of the presentations are finished, look at the timeline as a class: Do you see any trends in films' treatment of this topic, or any relationship between the films and world events that occurred at that time?
History | Civics | Science | Ethics
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Rejecting unconventional weapons? President Nixon's 1969 decision to end the U.S. biological weapons program reflected several factors, including growing public opposition to the use of napalm in Vietnam, and anticipated the controversies surrounding Agent Orange in that same conflict.
Divide the class into two groups; assign one group the topic of napalm and the other group the topic of Agent Orange. Have each group find at least six newspaper articles, magazine articles, or book excerpts that discuss its assigned topic; three of these should date from before President Nixon's decision to discontinue the U.S. biological weapons program, and three should date from after that decision. On the basis of this research, groups should explain to the class how napalm and Agent Orange were portrayed both in the 1960s and afterwards -- as effective tools in war, or as dangerous and/or immoral to use.
After groups have made their presentations, discuss the following question as a class: Do you think that the examples of biological weapons, napalm, and Agent Orange suggest that the United States is becoming increasingly restrictive in the kinds of weapons and tactics it is willing to use in wartime?
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From sea to shining sea. As this map shows, U.S. biological weapons were produced or tested in a number of locations across the country. The U.S. nuclear weapons industry is even more extensive. As a class, conduct research to find out the major places where nuclear weapons are produced, tested, or stored, and mark these locations on a map. Then add the various locations of biological weapons sites to this map. Are any of the sites on your map in your state?
History | Civics | Science | Ethics
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Diagnosing a bioweapon attack. Use this fact file on potential bioweapon diseases to prepare and then diagnose at least six different scenarios of bioweapon attacks. Begin by dividing the class into two groups. One group should imagine that they are doctors who have been called to the site of a bioweapon attack; their tasks are to (a) determine which disease was used, (b) suggest how the disease may have been spread, (c) recommend treatment, and (d) state the likelihood that the victims will recover. The second group should prepare the scenarios, each of which should describe symptoms consistent with one of the diseases listed in the fact file.
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Investigating the "Amerithrax" case. Among the issues discussed in these interviews with experts on biological weapons is the deadly anthrax mailings of 2001, which killed five Americans. As a class, find out about this case and where the investigation currently stands.
You may want to assign different groups of students to research specific questions, such as: What were the mailings and to whom were they addressed? Who was injured or killed? What is known about the person(s) who sent the mailings? Is there a possible connection between these acts and the September 11 terrorist attacks? What steps have been taken to guard against similar attacks in the future?
Have each group report on its findings to the class. Then assemble the findings into two lists: what is known, and what is not known, about the case. Close by discussing your own theories about what sorts of persons or groups might have committed these crimes, and why.
History | Civics | Science | Ethics
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Victims of a WMD attack. As a class, prepare an exhibit of accounts by people who experienced or witnessed attacks by weapons of mass destruction, such as soldiers who survived poison-gas attacks during World War I, Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings during World War II, or Kurds who were victims of Saddam Hussein's chemical-weapons attacks in the 1980s. Find brief quotations that describe what these attacks were like and the death and destruction they caused. Illustrate your exhibit with maps of the affected areas, a timeline of WMD attacks, and/or photographs.
When you are done, view the exhibit as a class and discuss whether this activity has affected your personal views regarding whether the use of weapons of mass destruction could ever be justified. In your view, are some weapons so terrible they should never be used under any circumstances, or are there situations (such as self-defense) under which any weapon could be considered acceptable? Use examples from your exhibit to support your views.
Close by taking the online poll on whether the use of biological weapons is justified.
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Testing in secret. Not until 1977 did Americans learn that the U.S. government had conducted secret tests in various locations across the country during prior decades to determine the country's vulnerability to biological attack. How might Americans have reacted if information about the tests had leaked out when they were being conducted?
Have each student choose one of the following years in which tests were conducted: 1949, 1950, 1953, 1957, 1965, or 1966. Each student should find out about key events that occurred in the United States or abroad during his or her chosen year and that might have influenced Americans' attitudes toward the testing. Then have each student write two letters to the editor -- one expressing support for the testing, one expressing opposition to it -- in the context of those "recent" events.
Have volunteers read their letters aloud to the class. Did the arguments for and against the testing vary much from year to year? Do students think that the American public would have demanded a halt to the testing if the tests had become public during one of these years?
page created on 12.15.2006