Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James Houston
Lesson plans for Farewell to Manzanar

| Historical Background | | The Book |

Historical Background

Ansel Adams's Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar
This collection is from the Library of Congress. On the left, find "Browse By" and click on "Subjects."

The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946
The Smithsonian Institute presents this slide show. To see a caption place your cursor within the full-size photo, and text will appear.

Asian-American History Timeline
This timeline documents laws and policies related to Asians in the United States from 1850 to 2013.

Dear Miss Breed: Letters from Camp
This Web site details the experience of Nikkei (Japanese American) students and Clara Breed, a librarian who stayed in touch with them after they were removed to internment camps during World War II. This collection of letters and pictures helps readers understand the experience.

Exploring the Japanese-American Internment through Film and the Internet
Click on the "For Educators" link to find a wealth of discussion questions and other resources.

Japanese American Internment
Overview, a collection of images from the California internment camps, and handouts to help with analysis.

Returning Home Again
A memorial opened in 2011 recalls the internment of Japanese-Americans from Bainbridge Island, Washington. This 11-slide photo display includes pictures from then and now.

A Time of Remembrance
An ongoing oral history project in which students record the "living voices" of Japanese-Americans who endured the internment camps. The site includes resources for teachers and for students, but the interview archives are its heart.

Yes, Virginia, there was a Holocaust
An 8th grade interdisciplinary unit exploring persecution during World War II, including Manzanar. This 19-page document requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

The Book

Farewell to Manzanar
This site offers a summary, theme openers, crosscurricular activities, research assignments, and suggestions for related reading.

Farewell to Manzanar (Houston) and Unbroken (Hillenbrand)
This lesson exemplar will allow students to participate in critical discussion of two stories that illuminate important, yet divergent, experiences of war and conflict. This lesson exemplar will push students to think critically about the experience of wartime as felt by both soldiers and civilians as they navigated specific trials that were a part of their direct or peripheral involvement in WWII. Includes texts for close reading practice. Designed for grade 7. 46 pages; word processor required.

Giving Voice to History
During World War II, the U.S. government ordered more than 120,000 Japanese Americans to detainment camps—the only reason given: being Japanese American. Drawing upon research and analyzing a variety of sources—including the historical novel The Journal of Ben Uchida , firsthand accounts, government documents, and select portions of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution—students will write dramatic monologues that testify to some of the injustices of this period.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston
Students will use stories of imprisonment and internment during WWII to both further their understanding of history and their application of critical literacy skills. Students will compare and contrast different people's wartime experiences, while being deliberate in their use of textual evidence when stating claims and establishing conclusions. Includes texts for close reading, vocabulary support, lesson plans, discussion questions, writing prompts, graphic organizer, links to additional resources. Designed for grade 8; word processor required for access.