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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Poetry of Liberation

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How do writers use words to protest injustice, challenge the status quo, and shape their own identities? Individuals watch and discuss a video, read author biographies, write poetry and journals, develop a slideshow, and complete a...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Becoming Visible

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
The television and interstate highways both came of age in 1950s America. Scholars use film, text, and discussion to explore how these and other cultural icons shaped the literature of the time. Pupils also create a family history...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Cold War Case Files: The Rosenberg Trial - Was Justice Fairly Served?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Rosenbergs—executed for their role in a Soviet-era spy ring—continue the captivate the American imagination. Using a history lab format, young historians examine the trove of documents associated with the case, including photographs...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Guatemalan Coup of 1954: How Did the Cold War Influence American Foreign Policy Decisions?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Was it all about the bananas—or the fear of a communist threat? Young historians use a history lab to examine documents from the American-led 1954 Guatemalan coup. Using graphics, government documents, and speeches, they examine the...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Post-War Suburbanization: Homogenization

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The results of World War II made waves all the way to suburban life today. Examine the flight from the cities using images and documents from the 1950s building boom, including a quote analysis and political cartoons. The resource...
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Assessment
New York State Education Department

US History and Government Examination: January 2013

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
While the 1950s seemed to be a time of peace and prosperity, Sputnik, the Korean War, and the Montgomery bus boycott were symptoms of the turmoil that loomed under the surface. Using documents, class members investigate what these events...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Four

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
The final installment of a 22-part American history series examines the many faces that make up the country's story. From Henry Ford to Tulio Serrano, scholars use biographical evidence and Internet research to uncover the people behind...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

A Lesson on the Supply and Demand of Toy Fads

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Let's all Hula Hoop! Scholars research the supply and demand side of toy fads in the United States. They analyze video clips and news articles to complete graphs on how the supply curve slope works in concert with the demand for products...
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AP Test Prep4:32
Bill of Rights Institute

Post-WWII Boom: Transition to a Consumer Economy

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The war is over! Scholars investigate an AP review video to uncover the post-WWII era in the United States. Viewers examine and analyze the consumerism that arose in post-war America. This is the eighth installment of a nine-part series. 
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PPT
Curated OER

Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Life Since 1930

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The King of Rock'n Roll, Twiggy, William Beveridge? Sounds like its time to review events occurring after 1930. Kids play this fun Millionaire-style game to review common knowledge British trivia. This game would be a fun challenge for...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Atomic Age: Living in the 1950s with the Threat of a Nuclear War

For Teachers 10th - 12th
The threat of a Nuclear attack was very real for people in the 1950s. Share the hysteria, propaganda, and reasons behind this Cold War tactic gone overboard. A great presentation intended to build a context for understanding mid-century...
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PPT
Curated OER

The 1950s:

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Teens will get a kick out of this presentation, which provides a glimpse of the consumerism and rising pop culture of 1950's America. They will especially appreciate the discussion of "Teen culture" including the music of Elvis, the...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Brief American Pageant: The Eisenhower Era

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Starting with the election results of Eisenhower over Stevenson in 1952, this presentation features additional maps about the elections of 1956 and 1960, with electoral votes by state. Additional slides detail the Far East (Vietnam,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Technological Impact on 1950's Culture

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impact of technological advancements on Cold War America. In this 1950's America lesson, students research politics, Cold War society, suburbia, and consumerism during the decade in order to better understand...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eisenhower: The Contentious 1950s

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore 1950's America. In this American history lesson, students research the McCarthy hearings, Civil Rights, war fatigue, and economic issues of the decades. Students respond to discussion questions about topics.
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Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Women in the 1950s

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students learn about suburban communities in the 1950s. In this women studies lesson, students watch a Power Point presentation about suburban communities in the 1950s. Students look at images from the 1950s and discuss what they think...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveling Southern Style: A Lesson on the Jim Crow Laws

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a poster of a travel route. In this discrimination lesson, 3rd graders read The Gold Cadillac and use it to discuss the problems African Americans faced while traveling south in the 1950's. Students compare three...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1950's Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students encounter how to work together as a group to accomplish a common goal. They gain more experience in doing research using library reference materials as well as internet sources. Each group is responsible for making a bulletin...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Into the Fifties: Understanding the Context of Film Genres in the Fifties

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discuss prior knowledge of American culture during the 1950's. They complete KWL charts, participate in class discussions and view the documentary film Atomic Café. They record their observations from the film.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is the Attraction of the 1950s?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, using HyperStudio or PowerPoint, select the ten most important events that happened in the 1950s.
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

New Year's Eve: 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989

For Teachers 6th - 12th
How was December 31, 1959 different than December 31, 2009? Young historians explore the political, social, and musical forces in the world made New Year's Eve a different experience during each decade of the 20th century. After groups...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Chapter 21 - The Cold War to 1960

For Students 9th - 12th
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.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Chapter 22 – The 1950s

For Students 9th - 12th
In this 1950's America learning exercise, students read assigned textbook pages about the decade and respond to 47 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock n' Rollin in the '50s

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore the culture of the United States in the 1950's.  In this history lesson, students research culture in the 1950's, with a focus on fashion, music, television, automobiles, etc., then work in groups to create a...