Professional Documents
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C. 1-3 District/Department/School
Standards if applicable
2. LEARNING TARGETS/OBJECTIVES (Must be measurable. Bold the learning verbs.)
A. Students will be able to
Report the major issues surrounding the trial of Daniel Ellsberg
B. Students will be able to
3. CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS
A. Central Focus of the Lesson (1)
Why were the Pentagon Papers kept from the American public?
Was US national security jeopardized by the leak?
How do we perceive whistle-blowers today (e.g. Wikileaks)?
Whistleblowers are in the news currently and students can see how
Daniel Ellsbergs actions might have influence those of people like
Julian Assange. Additionally, students can better form judgements
about organizations like WikiLeaks based on how leaking
documents has been used historically.
4. OPENER (How will you catch or hook students to engage them in the beginning of your lesson?)
Hook:
The warmup for the first day will be evaluating two examples of
contemporary leaked documents. We will examine some of the
leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee and about
the interment prion at Guantanamo Bay. Both case studies should
illicit a powerful response from students and get them engaged. I
will guide students through a brief discussion about the emails and
documents and hopefully leave them with a lot of unanswered
questions, so that they will be ready to engage in the trial activity.
5. INSTRUCTION (Not all parts of the lessons body may be utilized)
A. Beginning of lesson
I will ask students if they have ever heard of Daniel Ellsberg.
Assuming few if any do, I will give a brief explanation about who he
is and what role he played in publishing the Pentagon Papers.
I will ask students to think about the connections between Ellsberg
and WikiLeaks.
In order to build a stronger background for students I will show a
portion of the documentary 1971 a film about the Pentagon Papers.
We will recap some of the issues covered in the film and I will ask
for students perceptions of Ellsberg based on the film.
Because this lesson will cover two days, I will try to get all of the
background covered, introduce the trial activity and assign roles
during day 1 so that we can spend the entire next day going
through the trial.
Students will receive handouts detailing their roles and the legal
context of the case to study as homework. We will be pressed for
time, so court prep needs to be done the night before the trial.
B. Middle of lesson
Day 2 we will get the courtroom set up and launch into the trial.
US attornies will provide opening statements.
Attornies for Daniel Ellsberg will provide their opening statements.
Each side will also receive time for rebuttals.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judges will meet in a
small group and discuss their decision.
C. End of lesson
After the judges reveal their decision we will discuss the entire
7. ENRICHMENT/ELABORATION (Include one enrichment activity for students who might finish early)
What enrichment activities are
We will be very pressed for time, but if students finish early on day 1
offered for students in this lesson?
they will be able to start prepping for the trial, and if they finish early
on day 2 they can start working on their reflection essay.
8. LEARNING SUPPORTS (Think about accommodations inside/outside of your classroom)
What supports are used to support I will connect the content to current events, which should help
struggling learners?
students understand the controversy surrounding Daniel Ellsberg
and the Pentagon Papers. Also, the documentary can help those
whom struggle with reading, or are more visual learners.
9. BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS (Think about accommodations inside/outside of your classroom)
What supports are used to support I will consider potential behavior problems when I am organizing the
behavioral issues?
groups for the trial activity.
10. MATERIALS & RESOURCES NEEDED (Describe any handouts, readings, materials, and resources)