Smithsonian Institution
Cold War
The Cold War was not necessarily always cold in temperature, but the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union sure was frigid! Scholars read various passages, view exhibition graphics, and observe an artifact from the...
Student Handouts
The Cold War: The Truman Doctrine of 1947
What was the Truman administration's position on foreign policy during the Cold War? Class members respond to an excerpt from President Harry S. Truman's "Truman Doctrine" with three questions in the space provided.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Cold War: How Did It Start? How Did It End?
What is the difference between a Cold War and a Hot War? Scholars research the beginning of the Cold War. They analyze diary entries as well as excerpts from various events during the 45-year standoff. To finish, they prepare final...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
End of the Cold War
How significant was the Cold War during the 20th century? After reading and analyzing speeches by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, learners consider the historical context of foreign policy decisions made during the Cold War by both...
Student Handouts
End to the Cold War
Introduce your class to topics relating to the Cold War through a brief reading selection. Class members read the passage and answer four questions, which are provided on the bottom of the page.
Curated OER
The Cold War Era (1945 - 1991)
Provide learners with an excellent resource focused on the Cold War Era. Starting in 1945 and going all the way to 1991, the Cold War Era included major historical events, such as the Berlin Wall, Warsaw Pact, the Korean War, and the...
University of California
Roots of the Cold War
When and how did the Cold War begin? To answer this question, you will not find a better-organized, in-depth, activity- and inquiry-based resource than this! Executing best teaching practices throughout, each portion of this inquiry...
Curated OER
What Was the Cold War About?
Young scholars explore a website to gather some first impressions of the Cold War era and its impact on Canadian society and politics. They, in groups, answer questions about the Cold War on a worksheet imbedded in this plan.
Curated OER
Chapter 9: The Cold War Years
Students take a quiz on The Cold War Years of the 1950's and 1960's. This 20-slide presentation covers a variety of world-wide and domestic topics, and includes slides which give hints as to what the correct answers are.
Carolina K-12
NATO: After the Cold War
Why was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed, and what is its mission? Learners discuss NATO's participation in various events throughout the Cold War and work in groups to analyze whether those responses were appropriate.
Curated OER
What Was the Cold War?
A study of the Cold War can helps students learn about history through interviewing people who lived through this period.
Curated OER
The Cold War And Beyond
Students interview an adult that grew up in the United States during the Cold War to develop an understanding of the concept of mutually assured destruction. They focus the interview on how the person dealt with the threat of nuclear...
Stanford University
Cold War in Guatemala
Students investigate the Cold War and why it was fought in Guatemala. In this Cold War lesson, students analyze documents from the CIA and textbooks then discuss. Students work in pairs to answer questions and fill out graphic organizers.
University of California
The Vietnam War (1945 – 1975)
Have you ever wanted to do something so perfectly you wound up not doing it well at all? Young historians use primary and secondary documents to analyze the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. The issues surrounding the...
Curated OER
Cold War II
In this Cold War worksheet, high schoolers examine political cartoons from the era and then respond to 10 short answer questions. The cartoons are not included.
Mrs. Robbins' Social Studies Site
The Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade may not take up as much space in the history books as other events of the Cold War, but for the citizens of west Berlin in 1948—and the events to follow between the Soviet Union and the United Stattes—those 318 days...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Strategy of Containment, 1947–1948
How do people stop the spread of an ideology they don't think is right? Scholars research the policy of containment during the start of the Cold War. Small groups analyze primary sources to determine how the United States combated...
Curated OER
Cold War Battle Grounds Arms Race, Space Race, Sports
Students explore the Space Race and Arms Race. For this Cold War lesson, students watch video clips and read information about how the Cold War was fought. Students complete a writing activity based on the information presented.
Curated OER
Cold War into Guerilla War
Students examine the Cold War and the War on Terror. In this American history lesson, students research print and nonprint resources regarding both wars. Student compare the experiences of youth at the time so both the Cold War and War...
Curated OER
Chapter 21 - The Cold War to 1960
In this U.S. history worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages regarding the Cold War 1950's America and respond to 50 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Who Was Responsible for the Start of the Cold War?
Students determine who is responsible for the start of the Cold War. In this Cold War lesson plan, students conduct their own research about the evolution of the war and write essays that reveal their opinion on how the war began.
Curated OER
Cold War
Eleventh graders demonstrate their knowledge of the causes and effects of the Cold War.
Curated OER
Locating The Cold War
Learners identify major players in the Cold War and place them on a world map. They identify the two superpowers location on the map as well as their allies. Students analyze how the world divided itself.
Curated OER
Cold War Wars
In this Cold War worksheet, students respond to short answer questions regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the Chinese Civil War. There are 5 short answer questions regarding each of the conflicts.