Classroom Resources

These videos, images, and media-rich lesson plans are from PBS LearningMedia New York , a service of WXXI Public Broadcasting in partnership with the NY State Public Media stations and PBS. This collection of resources will allow educators to bring stories from the battlefront into American history, world history, and health classrooms. They will also help students to better understand veterans and their contributions.

Explore the similarities and differences in veterans’ memories of World War II and Vietnam to uncover how these wars shaped American culture. Analyze artifacts and oral histories that reveal important experiences of a nation during times of conflict. Use recent veterans’ personal stories to engage in a discussion of how the choice to become a soldier and the experience of serving relate to personal values and goals. You will find content in the Experiencing War, World War II, Vietnam War, and Iraq & Afghanistan sub-collections.

Note: Please preview all media for age appropriateness before using it with students. See grade level recommendations on media listings and cautionary notes for guidance.

Experiencing War 

• PBS LearningMedia: Experiencing War Collection
• Tuskegee Airmen from Iowa Public Television 
• WWII Oral History Project from George Public Television
  
• NAVY SEALs: Their Untold Story
• Last Days of Vietnam Classroom Collection
• Teaching the Civil War Collection:
• Teaching the Vietnam War Collection

Returning From War

• PBS LearningMedia: Returning from War Collection
  
• Photographer on a Mission from KQED (Afghanistan Veteran & Art)

Commemorating War

• PBS Commemorating War Collection
  

Analyzing War

• PBS LearningMedia Analyzing War Collection
  

        By War:

• Iraq & Afghanistan
  
• Vietnam
• Escalation of the Vietnam War | American Experience
• Teaching the Vietnam War Collection
• The Vietnam War: Ken Burns & Lynn Novick Collection of Video Shorts & Lesson Activities
• Korean War
• Korea: The Never Ending War
• World War II
• World War I
• The Great War Collection | American Experience
• Civil War
• War of 1812
• The American Revolution

General Resources to Search for Other Clips & Related Current Events:

• PBS LearningMedia New York (Grades preK-12)
  
  

• PBS Newshour Extra (Grades 7-12)