Indiana Social Studies IS.1.29

Social StudiesGrades 9–12History

The Standard

Examine and analyze the involvement and sentiments of Hoosiers during the Vietnam War.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Post-War Indiana: 1945 to 1960

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use Indiana letters, news reports, and photos to learn how Hoosiers took part in the Vietnam War and how they felt about it. They compare different views and separate military service from support for the war.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given an Indiana soldier's letter, a protest report, and a pro-war editorial, students identify different roles and views using a detail from each source. They do not assume a soldier supported the war just because they served.
Common Misconceptions: Students may assume all Hoosiers supported the war because Hoosiers served, or that all opposed it because protests made news. They may mistake one editorial for the opinion of the whole state.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, show an Indiana draft notice and a campus protest headline. Ask what each reveals and whether either proves how all Hoosiers felt.

Lesson moves

Give pairs an Indiana wartime editorial and a protest report; highlight opinions in one color and evidence of action in another.
Ask: Can someone support a Hoosier soldier but oppose the war? Write three sentences using evidence from the two sources.
Sort four cards, 'enlisted,' 'opposed the draft,' 'sent care packages,' and 'supported the war,' into actions and stated opinions.
Show a photo of a local Vietnam memorial and ask how honoring service differs from endorsing a war.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to IS.1.29, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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