Book

Farewell to Manzanar

Uprooted from their home, Seven-year-old Jeanne Wakatsuki and her family were sent to live at Manzanar internment camp with ten thousand other Japanese Americans in 1942.

Last Updated: May 12, 2020

Book

Language

English — US

Subject

Civics & Citizenship
English & Language Arts
History

Human & Civil Rights

Jeanne Wakatsuki was seven years old in 1942 when her family was uprooted from their home and sent to live at Manzanar internment camp with ten thousand other Japanese Americans. Farewell to Manzanar is the true story of her family’s attempt to survive the indignities caused by forced detention, and of a native-born American child who discovered what it was like to grow up behind barbed wire in the United States. Facing History and Ourselves has developed a study guide to accompany this book.

View or download the Farewell to Manzanar study guide

Farewell to Manzanar

Date of Publication: November 1973

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Lesson

Students examine various resources, including excerpts from Emmeline Pankhurt’s ‘Freedom or Death’ speech, to gain an understanding of how women were treated and expected to behave in Edwardian society.

The leader of the Women's Suffragette movement, Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested by Superintendent Rolfe outside Buckingham Palace, London while trying to present a petition to HM King George V in May 1914.

Lesson

Students reflect on Priestley’s portrayal of Eva Smith and consider the symbolism of having a character who only appears in the narrative second-hand.

Woman educator of color reads to the classroom.

Assessment

Students write an essay on character having generated claims, selected and annotated evidence, and read a model essay.

Assessment

Students write a persuasive letter to a local newspaper, which outlines the importance of considering the needs of others and suggests ways to create a more caring community.

Lesson

Students explore social inequality in the UK, discussing how an individual’s background can impact their opportunities before examining graphs that display social inequality and employment trends.

Heads of shoppers and commuters in a busy urban street scene.

Lesson

Students finish reading the play and participate in a court trial to decide which character is the most responsible for the death of Eva Smith.

Sketch of Main Court Room Guildhall, Kingston.

Lesson

Students identify the parts, people, and interactions of various social systems, thinking about what bearing they have on character choices and behaviour, before considering responses to injustice.

Sketch of men and women in bicycle attire in 1894.

Lesson

Students consider theatre as a call to action, discussing its power and limitations to spark real social change, before plotting their own play inspired by An Inspector Calls.

Group photo of An Inspector Calls cast members.

Lesson

Students address the essential question of the unit in a people's assembly, reflecting on the lessons that we can learn from An Inspector Calls.

Unit

Use this unit to transform how you teach J.B. Priestley's play and support your students in becoming effective writers, critical thinkers, and socially responsible citizens, who excel in their GCSEs.

Lesson

Students explore the moral codes of the world of the play, before being introduced to the concept of a universe of obligation and participating in a debate on workers’ rights.

A sketch by Boardman Robinson of the New York Tribune depicting a miner emerging out of the earth with a pick axe and head seeking the light above.

Lesson

Students develop their understanding of the character Gerald, exploring the differences between his treatment of Eva/Daisy and Sheila, whilst reflecting on Edwardian gender expectations.

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Using the strategies from Facing History is almost like an awakening.

— Claudia Bautista, Santa Monica, Calif

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Farewell to Manzanar

At a Glance

Language

Subject

Farewell to Manzanar

Borrow

You might also be interested in…

The Treatment of Edwardian Women

Bearing Witness to Eva Smith

Analytical Writing: The GCSE Character Essay

Persuasive Writing: A Letter to a Newspaper for a Caring Community

Exploring Social Inequality

Putting the Characters on Trial

Social Systems and Individual Agency

Theatre as a Call to Action

What Lessons Can We Learn?

Teaching An Inspector Calls

The Cost of Labour

Analysing Gerald’s Character

Farewell to Manzanar

At a Glance

Language

Subject

Farewell to Manzanar

Borrow

You might also be interested in…

The Treatment of Edwardian Women

Bearing Witness to Eva Smith

Analytical Writing: The GCSE Character Essay

Persuasive Writing: A Letter to a Newspaper for a Caring Community

Exploring Social Inequality

Putting the Characters on Trial

Social Systems and Individual Agency

Theatre as a Call to Action

What Lessons Can We Learn?

Teaching An Inspector Calls

The Cost of Labour

Analysing Gerald’s Character

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