History: Dr. Strangelove

Dr. Strangelove Questions #1

Vocabulary: define the following words.

megaton

megadeath

M.A.D.

deterrence


Characters: Write a brief description of the following characters.

Gen. Jack D. Ripper

Capt. Lionel Mandrake

Gen. Buck Turgidson

Maj. T.J. "King" Kong

President Muffley

Ambassador Alexei de Sadeski

Premier Dimitri Kizof

Answer the following questions.

During the "Cold War" there were some people who accepted the inevitability of a nuclear war and tried to plan for it. Many people objected that this type of thinking desensitized leaders making them more likely to start a nuclear war with casualties of 20 - 50 million Americans and as many Russians. What do you think?

What was the policy of Mutually Assured Destruction? Did it work?
During the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union were pursuing a policy of mutual assured destruction, why were missiles that could permit a defense against nuclear attack seen as dangerous and destabilizing?

Earth Science: Understanding Weather Maps

Follow this link to an online activity about interpreting weather maps. You will choose one type of map to read about and explain to your classmates.

Study the suggested background reading and answer the related questions on the handout provided.

Alana's Homework Cafe

High School Program student Orion Humphrey doodles an algebraic expression on his toaster streudel. I can't believe I just typed that sentence.

Good on ya, Alana, for making a study hall so fun!

P.S. Check out her new college counseling blog here.

History: Operation Foxley and Propaganda Movies

Operation Foxley

Der Fuehrer's Face

Triumph of the Will

Private SNAFU Gets Gassed

Why We Fight

How Did The British Plan to Kill Hitler?

source: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/lesson17.htm

Using primary sources from the website, complete the following tasks.

1. Read Source 1. This is the introduction to Operation Foxley, the British plan to assassinate Hitler.

What is the 'object' of Operation Foxley?

How many different methods are put forward?

Where is the assassination likely to be carried out? Find the two places mentioned.

2. Read Source 2. This piece of the file details the plans for assassination at Salsburg railway station.

What method of killing Hitler is described here?

What is meant by the word 'medium'?

What is meant by the word 'operatives'?

Briefly describe how the cleaners could be used to kill Hitler.

Who else could be used in this plan?

What will cause the poison to mix in the water?

3. Read Source 3. This section of the plan describes the poison which could be used.

How much of 'I' kills?

What would 'I' not be suitable for? Why is this?

List all the reasons why 'I' is the best 'medium' to use.

4. Read Source 4. This section of the plan details Hitler's drinking habits.

Read Hitler's drinking habits carefully. What would be the best way of poisoning him without the poison being detected?



Consider the following factors in your answer:

How likely is there to be the right opportunity to put this plan into action?

If the plan goes ahead, how likely is it to kill rather than just injure Hitler?

How likely is it that the people carrying out the plan will be caught?

5. Read Source 5. This section of the plan deals with the opportunities to assassinate Hitler in Obersalzberg. How will the assassins know whether Hitler is in Obersalzberg?

6. Look at Source 6. This is a map of the area of the Berghof, Hitler's home in Obersalzberg.

Study the map carefully. Where do you think would be a good place to make the assassination attempt? Why is this?

7. Read Source 7. This section of the plan describes the opportunity to assassinate Hitler during one of his daily walks.

Find Hitler's walk on the map shown in Source 6. Was this one of the locations you suggested?

How well protected is Hitler on this walk?

What cover does the area provide for would-be assassins?

8. Read Source 8. This section deals with locations for the assassins.

Can you work out where on the map (Source 6) the assassins should launch their attack on Hitler?

What weapons should the assassins carry?

What disguises are suggested?

9. Read Source 9. If the first plan fails, what is the alternative one?

10. By comparing the plans for the attempts on Hitler's life, you should be able to decide which plan has the greatest chance of succeeding.

On the back of this sheet, write a note to the Prime Minister outlining which of the assassination plans should go ahead. Give full reasons for your choice.

Propaganda at the Movies!

What did the word propaganda originally mean?


What is its current definition? Does it have a positive or negative connotation?


What does the narrator mean by the term honest propaganda?


Complete this activity by watching and responding to excerpts from several propaganda films.

1. Title: Why We Fight (film series)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUKRAE2O9c
Artist's Name: Frank Capra

Describe the images and sound in this film.



What is the poster's objective - that is, what is it trying to get the viewer to believe, think, or do?


How do the film's images and sound work to accomplish the objective?

2. Title: Triumph of the Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgEpnG7b8i4&feature=related
Artist's Name: Leni Riefenstahl

Describe the images and sound in this film.



What is the poster's objective - that is, what is it trying to get the viewer to believe, think, or do?


How do the film's images and sound work to accomplish the objective?
3. Title: Private SNAFU Gets Gassed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpTrXd1l_18
Artist's Name: Warner Brothers

Describe the images and sound in this film.




What is the poster's objective - that is, what is it trying to get the viewer to believe, think, or do?



How do the film's images and sound work to accomplish the objective?



4. Title: Der Fuehrer's Face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMTLMPcyprg&feature=related
Artist's Name: Warner Brothers

Describe the images and sound in this film.




What is the poster's objective - that is, what is it trying to get the viewer to believe, think, or do?



How do the film's images and sound work to accomplish the objective?

History: The Cold War

Use the link below to answer the following questions.

http://www.historywiz.com/coldwarexhibit.htm

1. What were three reasons the Soviets mistrusted American and "The West"?

2. What were three reasons "The West" mistrusted the Soviets?

3. What were the "occupation zones" in Germany? Who controlled them?

4. Who coined the phrase "Iron Curtain"? What does it mean?

5. In your own words, describe the Truman Doctrine.

6. What was the first U.S. use of the Truman Doctrine?

7. Who was George Marshall? What was the Marshall Plan?

8. Why did supplies and fuel have to be airlifted to Berlin in 1948 and 1949?

9. What does the acronym MAD stand for?

10. What event prompted the creation of a "hot line" between Moscow and Washington, D.C. to improve communication and maybe prevent war?

11. When was the wall built to separate East and West Berlin? When was it taken down?

12. What were three major reforms to the Soviet Union advocated by Mikhail Gorbachev? What prize did he win for his efforts?

13. What happened to the Soviet Union?

Crazy link to US nuclear strategy planning document here

Earth Science: Food Webs

Follow this link to an Australian food web activity. Click through all four environments!

http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm

History: The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb

Use the links below to answer the following questions:

Read this article:

http://www.ushistory.org/us/51g.asp

1. What was the current situation with Allied Troops and Japanese defenses in 1945?

2. What are the casualty rates given in this article for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

3. What are three reasons that critics have given for the decision to use atomic weapons on Japan?

4. What was Truman's stated reason?

Next, read this declassified U.S. document:

http://www.dannen.com/decision/targets.html

Under section 6, the meeting notes discuss possible target selection.

5. What criteria were used to evaluate which cities would make the best targets?

Read the eyewitness account of the bombing from Dr. Michihiko Hachiya:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/hiroshima.htm

6. What details do you find the most memorable from Dr. Hachiya's description?

Look at the panorama of post-bombing Hiroshima:

http://www.360cities.net/image/hiroshima-after-atomic-bomb-nuclear-3#200.26,2.60,8.9

7. What details do you notice as you look at the city after the attack? What, if anything, do you find surprising?

8. What kinds of structures are still standing?

9. What evidence of human activity do you see?

Read a transcript of President Truman's radio announcement that Japan was bombed.

http://www.dannen.com/decision/hst-ag09.html

10. Looking back, do you think that Truman made the right decision to use atomic weapons? Why or why not? Use details from these sources to defend your statement.


You can find more information and pictures about these events (some graphic; view with care) at the following links:

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/atomic_bomb.htm
http://www.dannen.com/decision/index.html
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/g_l/levine/bombing.htm
http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/kids/KPSH_E/hiroshima_e/sadako_e/subcontents_e/08higai_1_e.html