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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Poverty in America [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the numbers behind poverty in America in the 1950s. Read about those who were in poverty, where they lived, and find out if things have improved over the decades. [pdf]
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Book Pairings: "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry

For Students 9th - 10th
Selected (7) reading passages (grades 8-10) to pair with the drama "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry. When a struggling African-American family receives a large insurance check, a conflict erupts on how to spend the money....
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US Department of State

America.gov: Edward R. Murrow [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Highlights the life and career of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow. Examines his "This is London" reports during World War 11, the Senator McCarthy anti-Communist campaign in the 1950s, his critical treatment of migrant workers, and...
Article
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Changing America" by Barbara Radner

For Students 4th - 6th
This is an informational article about how Martin Luther King Jr. worked toward changing America in the 1950s and 1960s. It includes a short bio of Dr. King and a reading purpose: As you read, take notes on the problems that African...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: A Biography of America: The Fifties 1945 1960

For Students 9th - 10th
World War II ends with the legacy of its final moment: the atomic bomb. After reading comprehensive background material, interactive feature lets you decide if President Truman was correct in his decision to drop atomic bombs on...
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Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The 1950s: Happy Days

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief look at American life and politics in the 1950s with an increase in consumerism and fear of the Soviet Union.
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University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Consensus and Change

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief illustration of the changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy that occurred following WWII.
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Curated OER

National Park Service: Eisenhower National Historic Site: Presidency

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the ways in which Eisenhower's presidency and personality mirrored the country as a whole during the years he was president (1952-1960). Includes many artifacts of the era, such as campaign paraphernalia and articles of...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Land of Television

For Students 5th - 8th
The advent of increased television programming helped create a national popular culture. Read about the many kinds of television programs offered in the 1950s.
Website
PBS

The Sixties: The Years That Shaped a Generation

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion Web site to the PBS series. Provides an overview of the pivotal events, culture, and politics of the Sixties. Links to lesson plans and related material for a more in-depth study.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Baby Boom

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out why there were so many babies born in the United States after World War II.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Atomic Fears and the Arms Race

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the impact of nuclear proliferation in the 1950s, including fears of atomic bombs and increasing militarization.

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