Curated OER
Hitting the Cold War From All Angles
Eighth graders use maps, lecture and research to explore the history and social context of the Cold War. They examine films, music and important figures of the era.
University of California
Decolonization
The ripple effect from one small event can impact many others. Young historians research the ripple effect World War II had on decolonization in the second installment of an eight-part series. Through primary and secondary documents as...
University of California
Anti-Communism at Home
Have you ever been accused of something without cause? The sixth installment of an eight-part series asks scholars to create a museum exhibit on the anti-communist activities in the United States at the start of the Cold War. To make...
Curated OER
The Legacy of the "Great War"
Young scholars study how the map of Europe changed as a result of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I. They examine the results of the end of the Cold War.
The New York Times
Kiev in Chaos: Teaching About the Crisis in Ukraine
Provide a historical context for the political unrest between Russia and Ukraine that began in late 2013. Learners review their prior knowledge and chronicle new understandings with a KWL chart, watch a video explaining the Ukrainian...
Curated OER
Cuban Missile Crisis
Eleventh graders determine how causation shaped the Cuban Missile Crisis. For this Cold War lesson, 11th graders examine photographs and documents related to the crisis and analyze the television address that President Kennedy made to...
National Endowment for the Humanities
How "Grand" and "Allied" Was the Grand Alliance?
Learn more about the Grand Alliance with a scaffolded lesson plan that includes four activities. Class members use primary sources to complete a map exercise, understand the goals and objectives of each individual nation, and participate...
Curated OER
The Tet Offensive and the Vietnam War
Students comprehend how the United States became involved in what one historian called the quagmire. Students identify and analyze the importance of the Tet Offensive in turning American public opinion against the Vietnam War. Students...
Curated OER
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Learners examine the difference between the Cold War and the "hot" wars and contrast the benefits of solid and liquid fuel ballistic missile systems of the era. The impact of the Cold War upon their communities is explored.
National First Ladies' Library
Are We There Yet?
Students study the wide-reaching effects of the Cold War, even to its involvement in domestic road construction. They research the National Defense Highway System (Eisenhower Highways) for information about the creation of the program,...
Curated OER
Comfort Women
Ninth graders analyze connections between WW II, the Cold War and contemporary conflicts. They discover a more global perspective, as well as a greater sensitivity to the atrocities of war, and how the atrocities against the...
Curated OER
The blues highway: An integration of music with geography
High schoolers analyze the movement of the blues from rural Mississippi to urban Chicago and how place and the environment affected the development of the blues. They define the blues, where it originated and how and why it moved to...
Curated OER
Activity on United States Moon Landing: Apollo 11
High schoolers use the World Wide Web to access additional information needed to complete a set of questions. They demonstrate an understanding of latitude and longitude by interpreting a lunar map.
Curated OER
America Enters WWII
Students analyze the attack on Pearl Harbor. In this World History instructional activity, students research the events that led to the attack of Pearl Harbor then discuss the what happened after the attack. They finish the...
Curated OER
The Russian View of Territorial Encroachment
Twelfth graders produce a map illustrating the current NATO members, future nations, and nations that have applied for membership. They research current information regarding NATO, and the Russian viewpoint about the expansion of NATO....
Curated OER
With Liberty and Justice for All
High schoolers examine the role of Supreme Court justices. For this judicial branch lesson, students consider the civil rights and civil liberties as they investigate Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) and West Virginia State...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Understanding the Koreas
Though this resource was designed in 2005, US tension with North Korea remains a relevant topic for exploration and understanding. Unfortunately, this lecture and reading-based lesson is unlikely to engage the class. The end product is a...
Curated OER
Truman and MacArthur
Students discuss and fill out a chart on how President Truman fired General MacArthur. In this Truman and MacArthur lesson plan, students study telegrams, letters, and other documents, and fill in a chart about supporting or not...
Curated OER
East Asia--The Asian Holocaust
Ninth graders study the effects of the Asian Holocaust by comparing it to the Nazi Holocaust. They view a Power Point and discuss the comparisons between both Holocausts. As they compare and contrast both, they discuss their reactions...