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Lessons of Peace from Hiroshima

This Is Our Cry

This Is Our Prayer

To Create Peace In The World

~ inscription on the Children's Monument

 Peace Park in Hiroshima

Introduction

Nuclear chemistry is a growth industry. More than 3,000 nuclear facilities are operating world-wide to support medical research and energy, as well as industrial and military needs. Our Nuclear Chemistry Unit covered nuclear fission (A-Bomb and nuclear reactors) and fusion (H-Bomb), and the reactions involved. You learned about the history of atomic theory and the scientists whose discoveries made it possible, as well as some nuclear applications in our world today, such as medical diagnosis and treatment and radioactive dating.

In this Webquest, we will look more closely at what can be considered a pivotal moment in nuclear history: the dropping of the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. This effectively ended World War II, but the aftermath was so devastating that the bomb has not been used since. In this Webquest, we look at the lessons learned at Hiroshima and what they might mean for us and our future.

Part I: Declaration for Peace

1. Working in groups of four, and using the print and online sources listed under the “Resources” section, you will learn about the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Topics will iclude type of bomb, timeline of events, aftermath, and Article 9. Topics can be divided between group members. Note: Mr. Clayton has a variety of publications available from his trip to Japan and Hiroshima—don’t forget to look at them!

2. Keep a log of topics studied, sources used, and your responses to them. This log should be typed up and turned in to Mr. Clayton at the end of the assignment (4-5 pages). Your responses are important because they will form the basis of your Personal Peace Declaration.

Questions to consider:

a) What can we learn about war and peace from the bombing of Hiroshima?

b) How can we put what we’ve learned into action?

c) What surprised you during the research?

d) What additional questions were raised for you?

            e) Has what you learned affected your thoughts on how nuclear power can be used?

3. Each group will write a Personal Peace Declaration (no more than ONE page) which will be read aloud in class. In addition, the group must select ONE image that speaks to you personally about what happened in Hiroshima (be prepared to explain why this image was chosen). The image must be saved as a file so that it can be made part of a PowerPoint.

Paper Crane, I will write peace on your wings

and you will fly all over the world — Sadako Sasaki, age 12

Part II: Paper Cranes for Peace

The paper crane became an international symbol of peace because of the story of a young Japanese girl Sadako Sasaki. Sadako lived in Hiroshima, and was two years old at the time of the bombing. Like so many people, she fell victim to the “black rain” (radioactive fallout). Years later, Sadako contracted “A-bomb Disease” (leukemia). According to Japanese legend, making a thousand paper cranes would make her wishes come true, so Sadako vowed to complete 1,000 paper cranes, making them from any scrap of paper she could find. She was able to finish only 664 before her death at age 12. Her friends and classmates folded the remaining cranes, and all were buried with her. Learn more about Sadako and the paper cranes HERE.

Every year, people from all over the world, adults as well as children, make hundreds of thousands of paper cranes to show their desire for peace in the world. Many of these cranes are sent to the Children’s Monument in the Peace Park in Hiroshima (the monument is pictured above, topped by a statue of a girl holding a folded crane, supposedly representing the 12-year-old Sadako).

4. Your group's final task is to make as many paper cranes as you can (enlist help from family and friends if you like). Materials and instructions are available from Mr. Clayton. You will also find step-by-step instructions online HERE and an animated version from www.origami.org.uk

Resources

Print

Online

Your Personal Peace Declaration will be read in class against the backdrop of your chosen image. Your image will become part of a PowerPoint show on Mohonasen TV.

Your Paper Peace Cranes will become part of a Peace Display at the High School. Come to Mohonasen Community Day on May 17^th to assist in making more cranes at Mr. Clayton’s Peace Education Booth. Recruit your friends and family members to help us reach a goal of ONE THOUSAND paper cranes. Following the display at the High School, the cranes will be sent to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.

Maintained according to Mohonasen Central School District Web Publishing Regulations by
E. O'Keeffe, High School Librarian, Mohonasen High School,
2072 Curry Road, Schenectady, N.Y. 12303, (518) 356-8330
©2001 Mohonasen Central School District - All rights reserved.
Last modified on 05.08.2008