Curated OER
1950's Popular Culture
Students gain a basic understanding of Capitalism and Communism, the ideologies that fueled the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
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The Cold War Era 1949-1989: What Really Happened
This novel approach to a discussion of the Cold War can be a way to introduce the topic in your classroom. The presentation is supposed to be played in conjunction with the song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. It features lists...
Student Handouts
End to the Cold War
Introduce your class to topics relating to the Cold War through a brief reading selection. Class members read the passage and answer four questions, which are provided on the bottom of the page.
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Understanding Communism Past and Present
Students can learn about communism by exploring the countries where this political system was established.
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Fighting 20th-Century Tyranny
Middle schoolers examine political regimes of the 1900s. In this government structures lesson, students watch "Fighting 20th Century Tyranny," and discuss the Holocaust and communism. Middle schoolers simulate mock interviews with the...
Peace Corps
Starting Off the Day (and School Year) in Ukraine
Students compare the first day of school in Ukraine with the first day of school in the United States, including the challenges students and teachers both face in each country. They respond in class, in their journals, to the following...
Curated OER
The Communist Manifesto
In this online interactive philosophy instructional activity, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
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Focus on Russia; From Communism to Capitalism
In this Russian history worksheet, students respond to 12 short answer questions about Communism and Capitalism. Students also use the provided maps of the Russia and the U.S.S.R. to help them answer the questions.
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Social
In this social studies worksheet, students look for general terms and the answers are found by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.
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The Role Of NATO
High schoolers examine the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In this NATO lesson, students research the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, and the Berlin airlift and how...
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A Brief History of Vietnam (1858-2004) and Its Evolving Communist System
Students examine the French colonization of Vietnam, the Vietnam War, and the current evolving Communist system. They develop political maps, outline the major events of the Vietnam War, write an essay, and compare/contrast democracy...
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The Early Cold War: 1947-1970
With a combination of images, maps, and valuable information, this presentation is a strong resource for a history class that is coming out of a WWII unit and into a Cold War unit. Some points are outlined for students, while others are...
Curated OER
Afghanistan: Country Report with Questions
Building fluency in reading informational text is part of the common core. Get learners reading information about past and current issues related to the country of Afghanistan. They read the seven paragraph passage, then answer four...
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Development of American Political Parties: The Two-Party System
Was American politics always bound to the two-party system? Learn how the two-party system developed, why third parties tend not to do so well, and all the various political parties that have emerged throughout US history. Each party is...
Curated OER
The Origins of the Cold War, 1945-1949
High schoolers investigate the early years of the Cold War and the origins of containment. Both supporters as well as critics are probed to examine the differences that emerged in the months following the end of the war in Europe. This...
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Witch Hunt or Red Menace? Anticommunism in Postwar America, 1945-1954
Students investigate what constitutes an "un-American" activity and why Soviet espionage was such an important issue in the 1940's and 1950's. Joseph McCarthy's impact on American anticommunism is examined in this lesson plan. There are...
Curated OER
McCarthyism: 60 Years Later
Explore legendary cartoonist Herb Block's bold challenge of McCarthy-era politics through this analysis activity. Two cartoons are included, along with talking points to prompt analysis and background information to help pupils "read...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Herblock at 100
In celebration of renowned cartoonist Herb Block's Library of Congress exhibition, this handout includes 2 of his famous political cartoons for scholars to analyze. Background information describes "Herblock's" career, and talking points...
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The Allies Win the War
This PowerPoint clearly outlines many elements that contributed to the Allied Forces winning WWII. Topics covered are wartime technology, D-Day, The Holocaust, Perl Harbor, the Atomic Bomb and how winning the war changed the face of the...
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Flag Day
Students describe the symbolism, tradition, honor and power that flags bear and explore the stories of Civil War battle flags.
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"Police Action": The Korean War, 1950-1953
High schoolers investigate facts about the war in Korea in the 1950's and attempt to classify American foreign policy as a triumph or a failure. Why the U.S. became involved and the unpopularity of the war in America forms the focus of...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Life in a Totalitarian State
This interesting role-playing activity helps your class understand some of the qualities of totalitarianism by assigning each one as a spy or comrade citizen for a duration of five days. Students should find this highly engaging and...
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Decoding US Foreign Policy: The Iran-Contra Affair
This is a really good lesson. Learners explore US Foreign Policy, the Reagan Administration, and the Iran-Contra Affair through various documents and readers theater. Worksheets, script, and web links are all included. Teaching can't get...
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England & France During La Belle Époque
In need of a lot of information on the La Belle Époque and shifts in British and French government a the turn of the century? Well, here is a 79 slide presentation covering British and French history from 1870-1911. A fantastic resource...