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This The Physicist's War: Dr. Herman Branson and the Scientific Training of African Americans during World War II lesson plan also includes:
- The Physicist's War: Dr. Herman Branson and the Scientific Training of African Americans during World War II (.html)
- Branson - "The Role of the Negro College" (.pdf)
- Branson - "The Training of Negroes" (.pdf)
- Crowther - "Physicists and the War" (.pdf)
- Woodson - "The Present Status of Physics" (.pdf)
- Discussion Questions (.pdf)
- Discussion Question Answer Key (.pdf)
- Original Documents (.zip)
- African American students gain knowledge of medicine, economics, chemistry at Prairie View College and Howard University...
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The mobilization of soldiers for World War II resulted in a worker shortage in the defense industries, especially in the fields of physics and other sciences. The Engineering, Science, and Management War Training program (ESMWT) was created to address this shortage. One problem the program faced was that most universities were still segregated at this time. Introduce learners to Dr. Herman Branson who advocated for the inclusion of Howard University in the ESMWT program, previously limited to white universities. Class members watch videos, read articles, and share in discussions to develop an understanding of how African Americans contributed to industrial and scientific developments during World War II.
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CCSS:
Designed
Concepts
Instructional Ideas
- Have groups investigate current programs that support minority representation in scientific fields
Classroom Considerations
- Requires copies of three articles and discussion questions for the articles
Pros
- Includes a background article that introduces Dr. Branson and his efforts to increase minority enrollment in the ESMWT program
- Also includes discussion questions for each of the three articles
Cons
- None