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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln and the War’s Larger Meaning

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze Abraham Lincoln's view of the Civil War. In this American Civil War lesson, students read excerpts of Lincoln's speeches to determine whether he had a dual view of the war. Students respond to discussion questions about...
Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

Cuban Missile Crisis

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
The United States—specifically John F. Kennedy—played a large role during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A history resource poses questions that encourage critical thinking as well as in-depth analysis of images from the time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is War?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
What kinds of human activity do we define as "warlike"? Middle and high schoolers examine various definitions of war and types of warfare, especially as these descriptions relate to the kinds of war we are witnessing at the beginning of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War Warrior Defending: The Moral Beacon of the World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify President Reagan's domestic and foreign policy, describe America's attitude toward communism, list characteristics which endeared Reagan to the American people, and explain why some Americans spoke out against Reagan's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Enemy or Ally: America's Response to the Russian Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the events related to the Russian Revolution. In groups, they use the internet to discover the concerns of Woodrow Wilson during this time period and relate them to the origins of the Cold War. To end the lesson, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Afghanistan Today: Civil War and Human Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They analyze the role of religion and cultural identity in shaping governments. They also examine the United States foreign policy.
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

Analyzing the Inaugural Address

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Get high school historians to step outside their own shoes by responding to JFK's inaugural address from the perspective of a civil rights activist, a soviet diplomat, or a Cuban exile. After a class discussion about the address,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perceptions of German Unification Over Time

For Teachers 10th
Through a series of readings and handouts, learners will study the shifts in perception that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. The history lesson focuses on periods of change in post WWII German history that led to a changed...
Lesson Plan
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The Vietnam War (1963-1973) and the Iraq War (2003---): A Comparison

For Teachers 10th - 12th
If you are planning a unit on military history that includes a comparison between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, this resource may be useful. It lists possible sources for pupils to use to complete the graphic organizer which prepares...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Police Action: The Korean War, 1950-1953

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore why the United States became involved in the war in Korea. They discuss the confict between Truman and MacArthur, culminating in the latter's dismissal from command. They identify on a world map foreign countires...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz and World War II: A Rally to Resistance, A Catalyst for Victory

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the impact of WWII on the development of jazz music and consider how jazz music helped to boost morale of both soldiers and those left at home. They identify the function of jazz as a cultural export and discuss its...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tet Offensive and the Vietnam War

For Teachers Higher Ed
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thaw in the Cold War: Eisenhower and Khrushchev at Gettysburg

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover how President Eisenhower's brand of diplomacy at this Pennsylvania farm temporarily eased the tensions of the Cold War.
Lesson Plan
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Historical Thinking Matters

Spanish-American War: 1 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
After analyzing newspaper articles portraying different perspectives of the explosion of the Battleship USS Maine, your young historians will take a stand on which position is the most believable in both discussion and writing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Korean War - A Time Line Activity

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students create a Korean War time line. They identify, describe, and label nine of the key events and turning points of the Korean Conflict. They include all nine events listed on the direction sheet, contain a title, and have at...
Lesson Plan
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US House of Representatives

Legislative Trends and Power Sharing Among Hispanic Americans in Congress, 1977–2012

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

McCarthyism: The Political Cartoons of Herb Block

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine McCarthyism. In this Cold War lesson, students analyze 6 political cartoons by Herb Block that capture the essence of the Red Scare. Students discuss the cartoons and the fear of communism that permeated America. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Russian Years: Back in the USSR

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine communist Russia. In this lesson on changes in politics, students work in small groups to compare and contrast soviet communist era citizen rights to those of the US. They participate in discussion of a film and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1950's Popular Culture

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students gain a basic understanding of Capitalism and Communism, the ideologies that fueled the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Photographs: What Do You See?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
A study of an image from The Library of Congress collection Civil War Photographs 1861-1865 launches an investigation of the connection between the Civil War and American industrialization. After analyzing “Petersburg, Va. The...
Lesson Plan
National Woman's History Museum

Breaking Through Gender Roles: The Women of NASA

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Arms Race - From the Beginning to the End

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders focus on the political and technological developments of the Cold War. They, in groups, read and summarize the speech they are given. They should provide a short presentation based on their interpretation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explain the importance the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the role it played in the Cold War. After studying the crisis, 6th graders compose an essay describing the crisis and how the U.S. became vulnerable to nuclear...

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