Activity 4-1

Activity 4-1: U.S. Government Perspectives Through a Newsreel

Introduction

This activity engages students in an analysis of a newsreel made by the U.S. War Relocation Authority (WRA) and the Motion Pictures Division of the Department of War. The WRA was responsible for implementing the mass removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

Time

One class period

Materials

Video: Government Newsreel - Japanese Relocation
Handout 4-1a: Newsreel Analysis (one copy per group of five students)

Download printer-friendly (PDF) file of the Activity 4-1 handout

Download printer-friendly (PDF) file of lesson page and activity procedures

Watch streaming video of government newsreel (225kbs RealMedia format)

Download government newsreel video file (34MB Quicktime format)

Procedure

1. Select the method by which students will view the War Relocation Authority government newsreel:

Download the newsreel to your computer and project it for students to view
Download the newsreel to your school's network so students can access and view it from school computers
Prepare a projector and show students the streaming video version
Have students download and view the newsreel at home or on a library computer as a homework assignment.
Order a VHS copy of the government newsreel from SPICE by e-mailing spice.sales@forsythe.stanford.edu or by calling 1-800-578-1114.

2. Download and print the PDF file of Activity 4-1 handout. Make copies as indicated above.

3. Announce to students that they will be viewing a newsreel made by the U.S. War Relocation Authority and the Motion Pictures Division of the Department of War. This newsreel was shown before feature presentations in U.S. movie theatres in 1943.

4. Assign each student to one of the following topics. Students should focus on the topic while viewing the newsreel. Make sure that there are approximately an equal number of students assigned to each of the following topics:

Word choice
Selection of images
Rationale given for mass removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans
Music
Portrayal of Japanese Americans

5. Have students view the newsreel by whichever method you chose in step 1 (running time is about 10 minutes). While viewing the newsreel, students should jot down their thoughts regarding their topics of focus. After the newsreel, allow students a few minutes to make note of any other thoughts about their assigned topic.

6. Instruct students to form groups with students who focused on the same topic. Give students a few minutes to share their observations in these groups.

7. Have students form groups of five. Each group should have a student representative for each of the five topics. Distribute one copy of handout 4-1a: Newsreel Analysis, to each group. Give students 15 minutes to answer the questions on the handout.

8. Ask a reporter from each group to summarize the group's conclusions for the class.

9. As an assessment activity, show the newsreel again at the end of the curriculum. Have students write film reviews of Japanese Relocation. Encourage students to consider and/or incorporate perspectives they have learned from the curriculum. How have students' views of the newsreel changed since the initial viewing?