National Endowment for the Humanities
The House Un-American Activities Committee
Was the House Un-American Activities Committee justified in investigating subversive influences in the entertainment industry? Part two of the three-part series of lessons that examine the anti-communism movement after World War II,...
Curated OER
The Battle of Prairie Grove: Civilian Recollections of the Civil War (70)
Understand the violence of the Civil War through the eyes of young women whose homes were in the midst of an important battle and continuing conflict.
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Eisenhower National Historic Site
Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA.
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I Spy with my Little Eye…
Learners read an article on Vienna. In this ESL lesson, students explore a recent incident between Russia and the United States, then complete several activities that reinforce the information in the article.
K12 Reader
Elegy for Lincoln: Walt Whitman’s Poem
Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" is one of the most famous and emotional tributes to Abraham Lincoln. Guide readers through the evocative elegy with a reading comprehension worksheet, complete with the poem's text and a...
DocsTeach
Introduction to the Domino Theory and Containment Policy in Vietnam
Scholars analyze a propaganda poster against communism. The resource uses the poster to examine the domino theory and containment policies used by the United States to stop the spread of communism in Vietnam. Scholars work in pairs or...
US House of Representatives
Keeping the Faith: African Americans Return to Congress, 1929–1970
The third lesson in a unit that traces the history of African Americans serving in the US Congress examines the period from 1929 through 1970. After reading a contextual essay that details the few African Americans elected to Congress...
Fluence Learning
Writing About Informational Text The Berlin Wall
On June 26, 1963 President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech close to the Berlin Wall at the Rudolph Wilde Platz. On June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan Delivered his famous "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down...
Carolina K-12
Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare
In the 1950s, how did the Red Scare and the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy affect the American people? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents on the Red Scare, participate in a "find the...
Carolina K-12
The Cuban Missile Crisis
This is the perfect introduction to the Cuban Missile Crisis for your young learners. The lesson includes an engaging mock air raid, in-depth discussions, audio of President Kennedy's speech to the nation, and an event overview.
National Woman's History Museum
Breaking Through Gender Roles: The Women of NASA
Whether recognized or not, extraordinary women were integral to breaking gender barriers and putting Americans into space. For Women's History Month, explore a series of video clips and biographical information that profile these...
US House of Representatives
Legislative Trends and Power Sharing Among Hispanic Americans in Congress, 1977–2012
Bilingual education, voting rights, and Congressional redistricting come up often in the news. Explore these topics from another view—the perspectives of Hispanic members of Congress. Activities include an article with comprehension and...
Center for History Education
Speaking Freely In the Soviet Union's Autocratic Government
Speak your mind! The lesson explores the difference in free speech between the United States and the Soviet Union. Academics review the constitutions of both governments, political cartoons, and case studies to understand how freedom of...
American Institute of Physics
African American Physicists in the 1960s
Physicists Herman Branson and Tannie Stovall provide young scholars with two very different perceptions of the status of African American physicists in the 1960s. After reading and comparing the bios of these two men, class members read...
Curated OER
Korean War
Students visualize where the Korean Peninsula is located and what are some neighboring countries. They read a handout giving background information on Korea's 20th centuy history and Truman's Statement and answer questions in their...
Curated OER
Eisenhower's Foreign Policy
Good for setting the context for 20th century foreign policy issues, these slides describe key points in Latin America, the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe. US or World History classes will appreciate the concise list on each...
PBS
Crack the Case: History's Toughest Mysteries
Young sleuths don their trench coats, tip their fedoras, and grab their notepads to investigate one of four famous unsolved mysteries. After examining multiple primary and secondary sources related to their cold case, they propose a...
Curated OER
Kansas in the Movies, the Cold War Period
Students are instructed using a cross curricular type of lesson. The time period that they focus upon is the founding of the Soviet Union as a superpower in the world after WWII. The rise of communism is also taken into consideration.
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Cold War-Atomic Weapons
Ninth graders explore how nuclear weapons have affected the actions of nations around the world. They identify the countries that have nuclear weapons and discuss the humanitarian issues with nuclear weapons. Students create a "Doomsday...
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1948 - Berlin Airlift
Young scholars examine a document from the Berlin Airlift in order to research his important event in World History.
Curated OER
Dropping the Atomic Bomb The Decision That Defined a Presidency.
Students examine historical evidence regarding the atomic bomb. In this Truman presidency instructional activity, students research images and documents about the use of the bomb in Japan. Students write position papers that identify...
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Milestones in the Space Program
Students brainstorm names of astronauts from NASA space missions. They are explained that the Cold War was not actually a war but pervasive tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union for several decades...
Curated OER
McCarthysim
Eleventh graders explore and analyze the impact of the Cold War at home and how the fear of communism and nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. They study what role Senator Joseph McCarthy played on American fears...
Curated OER
Connecticut Communists
Eleventh graders investigate Cold War politics. In this Connecticut history lesson, 11th graders discover details about the Connecticut Seven who were indicted for violating the Alien Registration Act of 1940. Students write closing...