Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War
$12 Teachers Guide
$10 Downloadable Teacher Guide
Click here for a description of formats available, including Classroom Sets and interactive E-texts.
The official Teacher's Guide for the Academy Award winning documentary, The Fog of War
Overview of the Unit
This provocative movie by the filmmaker Errol Morris examines issues of war and peace in the twentieth century through the lens of one of the century's pivotal figures. Robert McNamara offers his account of the century just past, as he remembers participating in it, as well as his reflections on its meaning for the twenty-first century.
Some of what McNamara says in the film is highly controversial - the thoughts of one man reflecting on his own history and the history of his era. That other accounts, other reflections, may differ markedly from McNamara's makes the film all the more provocative for your students.
This teacher's guide, prepared by the Choices Program and the Critical Oral History Project - both at Brown University - offers a variety of lesson plans to be used in conjunction with the film. The printed Teacher's Guide is available for $10.
These lessons will help your students to connect the film and its message to twentieth century history and to consider McNamara's role as a political and military figure. In a final activity, "What kind of world do we want for the 21st century?" students will have the opportunity to define their own hopes for the future. They are invited to add their voice to those of peers nationwide using the U.S. Role Online Ballot.
Note: Teacher's Guide and online resources are available from the Choices Program. DVD is available from Amazon.com.