Teaching Tolerance
Using Photographs to Teach Social Justice | Confronting Unjust Practices
A powerful photograph of the Freedom Riders of 1961 launches an examination of the de jure and de facto injustices that the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s addressed. Young historians first watch a video and read the Supreme...
Curated OER
The 1950s:
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...
Curated OER
The Atomic Age: Living in the 1950s with the Threat of a Nuclear War
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...
Annenberg Foundation
Becoming Visible
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...
Curated OER
Nationalism in North Africa and the Middle East
Africa and the Middle East are the focus of this Social Studies PowerPoint. After viewing many slides that are packed with historical facts, viewers answer questions such as, "How was the struggle for independence in Algeria different...
Stanford University
Women in the 1950s
Learners 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. Learners look at images from the 1950s and discuss what they...
Curated OER
What Is the Attraction of the 1950s?
Fifth graders, using HyperStudio or PowerPoint, select the ten most important events that happened in the 1950s.
Curated OER
5th Grade Social Studies
In this social studies worksheet, 5th graders answer multiple choice questions about important court cases, World War II, Abraham Lincoln, and more. Students complete 14 questions.
New York State Education Department
US History and Government Examination: January 2013
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...
Curated OER
Development of Federal Civil Rights Acts : 1950's - Present
Students use the Internet to research one of five cases associated with Brown v. Board of Education and then join a group with people who researched the other four.
Curated OER
Eisenhower: The Contentious 1950s
Learners explore 1950's America. For this American history lesson, students research the McCarthy hearings, Civil Rights, war fatigue, and economic issues of the decades. Learners respond to discussion questions about topics.
Curated OER
Wings, Chrome, and Tailfins: Automobiles of the 1950s
Students study the automobile industry. In this cultural history lesson, students explore 1950s America as they view a teacher-created PowerPoint presentation regarding the 1950s. Students research how the automobile changed the 1950s...
Curated OER
The Technological Impact on 1950's Culture
Learners examine the impact of technological advancements on Cold War America. In this 1950's America instructional activity, students research politics, Cold War society, suburbia, and consumerism during the decade in order to better...
Curated OER
1950's Scavenger Hunt
High schoolers 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...
Curated OER
Before Rosa Parks: Ida B. Wells
The contributions of Ida B. Wells to the Civil Rights Movement are the focus of this social studies lesson. Middle schoolers read a handout regarding Wells, discuss the handout, and write about non-conformist behavior.
Stanford University
Public Housing
The Fair Deal was meant to give Americans after World War II a basic standard of living. Those in public housing often found that promise fell short. Learners consider whether the effort was successful by evaluating images, testimonies,...
Curated OER
Cold War Era Film Censorship: High Noon- a Slice of Americana Or Communist
Students study of the effects of the Cold War on the home front. They analyze the film High Noon according to an abbreviated version of the standards that films were judged by in the early 1950s and determine whether or not High Noon is...
Curated OER
Baby Boom and the Culture of the 1950's
Students study the ripple effect of the baby boom generation on history and on their lives today. They discover how the rules and conformity of the 1950's set the stage for the rebellious, anti-establishment sixties. They study the...
Curated OER
Social Activism in the United States
Seventh graders explore the goals of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. In this US History lesson plan, 7th graders read a newspaper article that reported a significant event during this era. Students write a summary of...
Curated OER
America in the 1950's
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.
Curated OER
Society in the 1950s (1)
In this online interactive American history instructional activity, students answer 11 multiple choice questions regarding 1950's America. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Social Activism In The United States
Middle schoolers explore justice issues. In this social activism activity, students watch "Social Activism in the United States," and then locate newspaper articles from the 1960's and 1970's about events during the era.
Digital Forsyth
Civil Rights and Active Citizenship
As part of a study of the American Civil Rights movement, class members search the Internet to find important facts, people, events, and pictures that they use to create a timeline of events between 1955 and 1970.
Social Studies School Service
“Duck and Cover” (Civil Defense)
Bert the Turtle models for viewers the 1950s Civil Defense Duck and Cover strategy that was supposed to protect citizens from a nuclear blast. After viewing the video, watchers are asked to consider the motivations of the producers of...