Cold War

Summary

Enduring Understanding:

• Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the causes and effects of the Cold War.
  

Essential Questions:

• What were the philosophies and actions of the two sides of the Iron Curtain?
• What major events took place as a result of the Cold War?
• Who were the heroes of the Cold War?
• What political policies arose as a result of the Cold War?
• What was the reaction on the homefront?

Materials

• U.S. History book
  
• World History book
  
• Internet

Background for Teachers

• The teacher will have a standard background on Post WWII America.
• They will teach the students about the logistics of co-op groups and the importance of everyone contributing.
• The groups will be instructed about how to do effective presentations (based on the rubric).

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the causes and effects of the Cold War.
  
• Student will explain the philosophies and actions of the two sides of the Iron Curtain.
• Students will show what major events took place as a result of the Cold War.
• Students will tell about the heroes of the Cold War.
• Students will relate how political policies arose as a result of the Cold War.
• Students will understand what the reaction on the homefront was.

Instructional Procedures

Students should be given the grading rubric ahead of time.

1. Lecture explaining the basis of a Cold War between two superpowers. Explain the importance of "buffer zone" and "iron curtain" and its importance to the Cold War.
2. Divide the students into groups of 4 to 6 people. Have them draw or pick an event of the Cold War to research:
   • Berlin Wall
     
   • McCarthyism
     
   • Truman Doctrine
     
   • NATO
     
   • Detente
     
   • Bay of Pigs
     
   • Warsaw Pact
     
   • Berlin Airlift
     
   • Sputnik
     
   • Espionage
     
   • Cuban Missile Crisis
     
   • Marshall Plan
     
   • Korean War
     
   • Nuclear Proliferation
     
   • Yalta Conference
     
3. Have each group research their topic and do an oral presentation to the class. Each report should include:
   
   • Background/history
   • A hand-out for each student
   • Oral presentation using each student in the group equally
   • An assessment
   • Visual Aids
   • A lesson showing each side.

Extensions

Primary source analysis worksheet

Assessment Plan

Group Oral Presentations:

• Background/history
  
• Handout/one per student
  
• Oral presentation
  
• Show both East and West Side of issue or event
  
• Standard Rubric