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Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

The Price of Freedom: Americans at War

For Students 5th - 12th Standards
An interactive resource covers all of the United States' most prominent and influential historic wars including the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the War of 1812, and the Korean War. Learners observe cause and effect as well as how violence...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Introduction to the Early Origins of the Cold War

For Students 8th - 12th
In this Cold War worksheet, learners read a 4-paragraph selection about post World War II diplomacy and then list key dates and events noted in the selection.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cold War Chronology

For Students 8th - 12th
In this Cold War instructional activity, students examine the chronological list of important events between 1945 and 1991. Students then respond to 7 short answer questions based on the chronology.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
University of California

Decolonization

For Teachers 10th Standards
The ripple effect from one small event can impact many others. Young historians research the ripple effect World War II had on decolonization in the second installment of an eight-part series. Through primary and secondary documents as...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
University of California

Principles vs. Practices

For Teachers 10th Standards
Have you ever wondered what your own World Order would look like? Scholars use primary and secondary documents as well as video clips to investigate and analyze the Cold War. Using the sources, the principles and practices of nations...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Newscast on the Cold War

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students research the events of a specific year of the Cold War. In this Cold War lesson, students investigate the causes of the Cold War and highlight the events of a particular year.  Students create a storyboard and a video newscast...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sources of the Cold War

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make a time line from their notes and outlines of the causes of the Cold War.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Was Responsible for the Start of the Cold War?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students determine who is responsible for the start of the Cold War. In this Cold War lesson, students conduct their own research about the evolution of the war and write essays that reveal their opinion on how the war began.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cold War

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders demonstrate their knowledge of the causes and effects of the Cold War.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the origins of the Cold War.  In this Cold War lesson, 10th graders analyze selected songs and identify what historical events they reference.  Students create a musical collage or timeline for the period since the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War at Home

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discover the perspective of Cold War on the American homefront. In this Cold War lesson, 11th graders watch Duck and Cover video segments that instruct citizens what to do in case of nuclear attack. Students discuss the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cold War in Popular Music

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze pop culture songs to identify cold war themes and chart. They comprehend and explain why the Cold War took place and ended and assess its significance as a 20th century event. Students conduct a song analysis of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Intro to the Cold War

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the Cold War.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders develop answers to comprehension questions about the song "We Didn't Start the Fire".  Students write a persuasive essay at the end of the unit. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Introduction to the Early Origins of the Cold War

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Cold War worksheet, students read an article titled "Introduction to the Early Origins of the Cold War," and then make a list of key dates and events from the selection.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy and the Cold War: How the United States Used the Moon to Target the Soviet Union

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine how astronomical observations were used to help target sites in the Soviet Union during Cold War and why such targeting was needed. Students then make predictions and observations of same astronomical events for their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cold War into Guerilla War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Cold War and the War on Terror. In this American history lesson, students research print and nonprint resources regarding both wars. Student compare the experiences of youth at the time so both the Cold War and War...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Cold War

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the correlation between the Cold War and the Domino Theory.  In this history lesson plan, students watch a short video that exhibits the domino effect, then divide into small groups, each representing an assigned...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Warring Philosophies: The Cold War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain why the Cold War took place and ended. They analyze its significance as a 29th century event. Students identify the differences between the USA and USSR during the Cold War.
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Lesson Plan
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University of California

Hot Spots Research Project

For Teachers 10th Standards
The Cold War was only between the US and the USSR, right? Wrong! Scholars use primary and secondary resources to analyze the global impact of the Cold War. The fourth installment of an eight-part series culminates in the creation of a...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Analyzing US Involvement in the Vietnam War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
War: unavoidable or a necessary evil? A thought-provoking activity explores the United States' long involvement in the Vietnam War as well as the aftermath. Scholars research and summarize primary documents and complete online worksheets...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

The Cuban Missile Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Cold War tensions led to hostile actions. Scholars use primary sources to understand the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis during President Kennedy's administration. The lesson provides primary sources and a graphic organizer to...
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Assessment
New York State Education Department

US History and Government Examination: August 2013

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
While the United States is now one of the strongest countries in the world, at its founding, it was plagued by controversies over the ratification of the Constitution, the Louisiana Purchase, and the expansion of slavery. Using a...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Landing a Man on the Moon: President Nixon and the Apollo Program

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Take the small step for man and giant leap for mankind with the Apollo astronauts using primary sources. Young historians explore the documents related to the American space program up through the lunar landing, including presidential...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Arab-Israeli Conflict

For Students 11th - 12th
Provide your class with a context and series of events that has led to the conflict in the Middle East. They read 4 separate passages and answer 1 critical thinking question for each. Four more questions are posed at the bottom of the...