1950s Teacher Resources

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...

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...

High schoolers explore 1950's America. In this American history lesson, students research the McCarthy hearings, Civil Rights, war fatigue, and economic issues of the decades. High schoolers respond to discussion questions about topics.

Students learn about suburban communities in the 1950s. In this women studies lesson plan, students watch a Power Point presentation about suburban communities in the 1950s. Students look at images from the 1950s and discuss what they...

Young scholars 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...

Fifth graders, using HyperStudio or PowerPoint, select the ten most important events that happened in the 1950s.

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...

Students examine the various domestic and international problems in the 1950s. They conduct research, write a script, and role-play a family discussing issues at the table at dinnertime in the 1950s.

Students reflect on how television has changed daily living from the 1950's to now.  In this research lesson, students complete Internet research on what life was like without TV in the 1950's and then create commercials on how they...

Students study the automobile industry. In this cultural history lesson plan, students explore 1950s America as they view a teacher-created PowerPoint presentation regarding the 1950s. Students research how the automobile changed the...

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...

Take a closer look at "one of the most important periods of American social history: the 1950s," as well as the type of society that the civil rights movement would endeavor to change. This engaging video begins by detailing the era of...

We're going way back to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s to discuss pop culture, entertainment, and social dance. Kids discuss the top headlines from those time periods and how music, culture, and dance influence each other and evolve over...

In this online interactive American history worksheet, high schoolers answer 11 multiple choice questions regarding 1950's America. Students may submit their answers to be scored.

In this America in the 1950's worksheet, students read about housing, education, entertainment, and the Cold War in the 1950s. Students then answer 5 questions about this time.

In this 1950's America learning exercise, students read assigned textbook pages on the topic and respond to 10 short answer questions about 1950's America.

In this online interactive American history worksheet, students respond to 8 matching questions regarding 1950's America. Students may check their answers immediately.

In this 1950's America worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages about the decade and respond to 47 short answer questions.

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...

In this 20th century American history activity, students view video clips about the 1950's and complete the graphic organizer regarding popular culture during the decade.  

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,...

Who was Joseph McCarthy and why is his name synonymous with witch hunts? What were the factors that permitted the political repression of the 1950s to flourish? Could the same thing happen today? An intriguing video traces the rise and...