Activity Overview
Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete and critical understanding of the lives and diverse perspectives of people who were involved in the Vietnam War. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting at least 3 key figures from the Vietnam War. They should include information about their impact, importance or role, and core beliefs.
Examples of Key Figures related to the Vietnam War
North Vietnamese
- Hồ Chí Minh
- Le Duan
- Vo Nguyen Giap
South Vietnamese
- Bao Dai
- Ngô Đình Diệm
- Ngo Dinh Nhu
- Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
Americans
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- John F. Kennedy
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Robert McNamara
- Richard M. Nixon
- Henry Kissinger
- William Westmoreland
- Creighton Abrams
- William Calley
Anti-War Figures
- Muhammad Ali
- Robert F. Kennedy
- John Kerry
- Martin Luther King
- Jane Fonda
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research some of the key figures from the Vietnam War and create a spider map that highlights 3-6 of them.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct research on important figures from the Vietnam War
- For each cell, include the person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person, use search, or upload a picture. You may also choose to create a design that represents your person.
- Include a short description of the person and their role or importance during the Vietnam War.
- Save and exit when you're finished.
Requirements: 3-6 people with names, dates of birth/death, illustrations, accomplishments.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 10 Points | Emerging 6 Points | Needs Improvement 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least 3 important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than 3 important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete and critical understanding of the lives and diverse perspectives of people who were involved in the Vietnam War. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting at least 3 key figures from the Vietnam War. They should include information about their impact, importance or role, and core beliefs.
Examples of Key Figures related to the Vietnam War
North Vietnamese
- Hồ Chí Minh
- Le Duan
- Vo Nguyen Giap
South Vietnamese
- Bao Dai
- Ngô Đình Diệm
- Ngo Dinh Nhu
- Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
Americans
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- John F. Kennedy
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Robert McNamara
- Richard M. Nixon
- Henry Kissinger
- William Westmoreland
- Creighton Abrams
- William Calley
Anti-War Figures
- Muhammad Ali
- Robert F. Kennedy
- John Kerry
- Martin Luther King
- Jane Fonda
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research some of the key figures from the Vietnam War and create a spider map that highlights 3-6 of them.
Student Instructions:
- Choose a person.
- Using school resources, conduct research on important figures from the Vietnam War
- For each cell, include the person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person, use search, or upload a picture. You may also choose to create a design that represents your person.
- Include a short description of the person and their role or importance during the Vietnam War.
- Save and exit when you're finished.
Requirements: 3-6 people with names, dates of birth/death, illustrations, accomplishments.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 10 Points | Emerging 6 Points | Needs Improvement 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least 3 important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than 3 important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Key Figures in the Vietnam War
How to facilitate a classroom debate using Vietnam War key figures
Encourage students to think critically by assigning them the roles of different Vietnam War figures and structuring a debate. This method helps students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of historical perspectives.
Assign each student a historical figure from the Vietnam War
Select or let students choose a key figure to research and represent. This promotes ownership and helps ensure diverse viewpoints are covered during the debate.
Provide students with guiding questions and debate prompts
Offer thought-provoking questions related to the Vietnam War, such as motives, strategies, and consequences. Clear prompts help students prepare and stay focused during the debate.
Set ground rules for respectful discussion
Establish expectations for listening, turn-taking, and respectful disagreement. These rules create a safe environment for all students to participate.
Moderate the debate and encourage evidence-based arguments
Guide students to use facts and primary sources when making their points. Active moderation keeps the discussion focused and meaningful.
Reflect as a class on lessons learned from multiple perspectives
Lead a debrief session where students discuss new insights and empathy gained from examining the Vietnam War through various roles.
Frequently Asked Questions about Key Figures in the Vietnam War
Who were the most important figures in the Vietnam War for students to research?
Key figures in the Vietnam War include Hồ Chí Minh, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Vo Nguyen Giap, Ngô Đình Diệm, and anti-war activists like Muhammad Ali and Jane Fonda. Researching these leaders and activists helps students understand different perspectives and roles in the conflict.
How can I help students create a spider map about Vietnam War key figures?
Guide students to select 3–6 notable individuals from the Vietnam War, research their biographies, roles, and beliefs, then organize the information visually in a spider map with names, dates, images, and brief descriptions for each person.
What information should students include when researching Vietnam War figures?
Students should include the person’s name, birth and death dates (if applicable), a short description of their role or importance during the Vietnam War, relevant accomplishments, and an illustration or image representing them.
Why is it valuable for students to study real people from the Vietnam War?
Studying real people from the Vietnam War helps students gain a more concrete, empathetic, and critical understanding of history, moving beyond memorization to see diverse perspectives and the human impact of the conflict.
What are some examples of anti-war figures students can include in their spider map?
Examples of anti-war figures from the Vietnam War to include are Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., Jane Fonda, Robert F. Kennedy, and John Kerry, all of whom spoke out or acted against the war in different ways.
More Storyboard That Activities
Vietnam War
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
