Understanding War

Many students have inaccurate perceptions of war and violence. An eighth-grade classroom discussion of why countries go to war elicited some disturbing responses: Some students wanted to know what it would be like to kill another human being; others thought going to war would be "cool." Students needed help understanding the harsh realities of war.

Teachers designed an interdisciplinary unit on war that combined history lessons on the Holocaust with the study of relevant literature. The language arts teacher exposed students to a variety of perspectives on war and violence, including Myron Levoy's "Alan and Naomi," Elie Weisel's "Night," Todd Strasser's "The Wave," and Anne Frank's "The Diary of a Young Girl." Still, making a historical treatment of war meaningful to eighth graders remained problematic

Through brainstorming sessions, students decided that interviewing veterans would be the best and most accurate way to learn about war. They paired with volunteers from a local VFW post and interviewed World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans on two occasions. The veterans returned to the school for a third session to share war memorabilia, medals, and pictures. The students wrote histories and poems of appreciation, and worked with the veterans to design and create a quilt symbolizing the connection between war and peace.

The project brought young and old together to share the past and present. The veterans reported feeling appreciated, valued, and honored that eighth graders took an interest in their lives, and have continued to visit the classrooms, becoming an integral part of the curriculum.

Although this project was designed to help students form a more accurate picture of violence and war, the veterans learned as much from their interviewers as the students learned from them. After the project's completion, the veterans hosted a dinner to honor all participants and their families. The quilt was displayed, and students read their poems of appreciation and shared reflections. Each veteran received a program book featuring the students' works.

Adapted from "Community Lessons: Integrating Service-Learning Into K-12 Curriculum," 2001, Massachusetts Department of Education, Massachusetts Service Alliance, and Learn and Serve America. Used with permission of Massachusetts Department of Education, www.doe.mass.edu/csl, (781) 338-3000.