WPSU Logo WPSU The Vietnam War:
Telling the Pennsylvania Story

Educational Materials

The Vietnam Era (1961-1975) is a complicated time in our nation’s history. Although Vietnam is crucial to understanding current American foreign policy, many parents and educators find it difficult to convey the many complex social and political dynamics of the war and era. WPSU has curated a list of robust educational materials to help parents and teachers discuss the various aspects of this tumultuous time in our nation’s history.

Lesson Topics

  • The Vietnam Veterans MemorialOpen or Close

    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is rich in symbolism and has a very interesting story about how it came to be.

    The Wall iPad and Android App

  • PoliticsOpen or Close

    • How War is Initiated
      This lesson plan from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) reviews the legislative mechanisms by which the U.S. became involved in Vietnam that continue to impact discussions of war today.
    • Motivations for US Involvement
      This lesson plan from VVMF involves a review of various presidents’ decision-making and foreign policy with respect to Vietnam and the greater Southeast Asia region. Students will analyze and debate the implications of presidents’ public speeches, and to consider whether any of the same factors were involved in the 2003 Iraq war.
    • Coalitions in Wartime
      This VVMF lesson plan involves a review of various nations’ foreign policies with respect to Vietnam and the greater Southeast Asia region in the 1950’s-70’s, to build an understanding of the extent of international support of US efforts in Vietnam.
    • Withdrawal from Vietnam
      This VVMF lesson plan involves a review of the slow process of withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam, and the presidential decision-making that guided that process.
    • Legacy of War in Vietnam
      This VVMF lesson plan involves a review of the aftermath of the war in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Students will analyze and debate the terms of the Paris Peace Accords, review ongoing impacts to the region’s foreign relations and economic development, and analyze the current state of U.S.-Vietnam relations and the issues that are guiding that relationship.
  • Anti-Vietnam ProtestsOpen or Close

    • Protests Against the War
      Opposition against U.S. involvement in Vietnam took place during a time of unprecedented student activism. This full lesson plan from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund reviews public demonstrations and resistance to U.S. involvement in war, from the Civil War until today.
    • Vietnam War Protests
      This History Channel video and article includes a review of the political consequences of the protests.
  • The DraftOpen or Close

    • Evolution of the Draft
      This full lesson plan from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund reviews how the nature of conscription changed over the course of American history.
    • The Draft
      PBS Learning Media Collection of video clips
  • The First Televised WarOpen or Close

    • News Stories of Vietnam
      This lesson plan from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) reviews the most iconic news reports associated with the Vietnam War. Students will analyze and debate the effect of evolving types of information coming from the news media over the course of the war, and consider how and what types of information about current military conflicts are related to the public through the news media.
    • War on the Homefront
      This VVMF lesson plan reviews how information on war has been reported over the course of the 20th century. Students will analyze and debate the validity of information coming from different news sources, from Vietnam to today, and discuss the role of a free press.
  • Impact on the ArtsOpen or Close

    • Film & War
      This lesson plan from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is written around the question, “Do you think movies can play an important role in shaping popular understanding of a historical event or period? If yes, how should we interpret them?”
    • Music & War
      The Vietnam Era set a precedent for music as a public space to reflect and criticize political events. This VVMF lesson plan reviews popular music of the Vietnam era, as well as more recent popular music that deals with the subject matter of war and peace.
  • Social Makeup of Military ForcesOpen or Close

    • Social Makeup of Forces
      This lesson plan from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund includes a review of the demographics of those who served in the nation’s wars from Korea to today, with students examining the shift in the characteristics of those who comprise the military over the past 50+ years, as well as examining the broader shifts in society that came as a result of the military’s makeup in Vietnam.
    • Women in the Vietnam War
      History Channel video and article about the role of women in the Vietnam War
    • Vietnam Nurses – Documentary with Dana Delany
      This 45-minute documentary about eight women who battled to save the wounded in Vietnam.
  • Lasting Effects of WarOpen or Close

    • Medical Advances
      Medical care on the battlefield has continued to evolve since Vietnam and continues to impact medical care at home in communities around the country. This VVMF lesson plan involves a review of medical innovations introduced on the battlefield, from World War II to today.
    • Ongoing Toll on Veterans
      This VVMF lesson plan involves a review of the different issues that have impacted Vietnam veterans and veterans of more recent conflicts after their periods of service have ended.

PBS Learning Media: Teaching the Vietnam War

PBS Learning Media has a collection of videos and lesson plans that can help students explore the social and political dynamics of the Vietnam War. Students will examine why, how, and by whom the Vietnam War was fought, how it affected U.S. citizens at home, and how factors shifted over the course of the war. Students will identify the Vietnam War’s legacy and lasting toll on veterans.

Contribute YOUR Story

We want to invite you to become part of the immersive story portion of this project. As a reflection on lessons learned about the Vietnam Era, we encourage you and your students to record your stories to be posted in The Vietnam War Pennsylvania Archive.

You don’t have to be a veteran of the war or have lived through the Vietnam era to be inspired by it. Document your reflections, write a remembrance or a tribute, or interview a family member or friend about their experiences during this era.