Curated OER
Post-Nuclear War Survival
Students use critical thinking and discussion to solve a problempresented in a hypothetical dilemma.
Center for History Education
The Cuban Missile Crisis
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...
DocsTeach
President Reagan and the Cold War: Vision and Diplomacy
After years of boiling tension, the presidency of Ronald Regan and the rise of Mikhail Gorbechev paved a new way forward for diplomacy between the United States and the Soviet Union. Using primary source documents, including letters...
DocsTeach
Letter to Truman about the Manhattan Project
Delve into the past to understand the opposition to the Manhattan Project. An interesting activity is designed to be completed in pairs, groups, or individually. Scholars analyze historical documents, complete an online worksheet, and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Iran Nuclear Deal and Its Critics
What was the purpose of the Iranian Nuclear Deal? An insightful resource explains nuclear tensions in the Middle East and Iranian weapon development that contributed to the Nuclear Deal in 2013. Academics learn the agreement limited...
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...
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...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
What Should the US Do About North Korea's Nuclear Weapons?
North Korea, a shadowy nation distrustful of America, is working on a nuclear weapons program. What should the United States do? The question has plagued American presidents for years, but now young scholars get to make their...
Curated OER
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...
Other
Limited Test Ban Treaty: Analysis
This essay describes the negotiations involved in passing the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty and its impact on U.S.-Soviet general disarmament.
Library of Congress
Loc: Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis
This brief Library of Congress site has info on the Russian's role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Other
Nagasaki University: Medical Effects of the Atomic Bomb at Nagasaki
This resource provides data about the physical destruction of Nagasaki, the medical aspect, and survivor stories.
Federation of American Scientists
Fas: National Security Policy Arms Control Disarmament
A lengthy essay describing the negotiations and politics involved in President Kennedy's quest to create a permanent ban on nuclear tests.
Then Again
Then Again: Web Chron: Summary of Cuban Missile Crisis
This site contains a short summary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The last paragraph tells of the resolution between the U.S., Cuba, and Soviet Union.
George Washington University
National Security Administration: Cuban Missile Crisis
This is from the National Security Administration's Website. It has information on the operations involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Difficult for an Elementary student to understand, but a great resource for Elementary teachers.
Other
Nuclearfiles.org: Chronology on Decision to Bomb
This detailed chronology of the events and communication of 1945-1946 shows Truman's role in the process of the decision to drop the world's first atomic bomb used in warfare upon Hiroshima and then the second upon Nagasaki. Also...
Other
Nuclearfiles.org: Truman and the Atom Bomb
Read background information about Harry Truman and the development of the atomic bomb prior to his presidency. Includes excerpts from official documents and conversations during the Truman Administration.
Other
Nuclearfiles.org: 20 Mishaps and Possible Nuclear War
Read summaries of 20 accidents that moved the United States and USSR dangerously close to "mutually assured destruction" and nuclear war during the Cold War. A chilling reminder of the constant threat faced by all during that period of...
TES Global
Tes: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students' understanding of literary concepts related to William Golding's Lord of the Flies is reinforced with this card sort activity.
Other
The Progressive Magazine
Homepage of the national magazine for peace and social justice, THE PROGRESSIVE. Read recent news regarding social justice here.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: The Atomic Bomb and the Nuclear Age
The resources here, including letters, photographs, official documents, and film, represent various aspects and visions of the Atomic Age.
Other
Diefenbunker Virtual Tour
For those that are unable to tour the Diefenbunker on a field trip, these pictures are a good substitute. Students can get an idea of what the interior is really like.
Other
Necessity of Hiroshima: J. Robert Oppenheimer
This is a short biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer provided by a personal site from Doug Long. Included is a quote of his reaction to the use of the atomic bomb several years after the war.
Other
Us Department of Energy: The Manhattan Project
In a short two paragraph entry, the general history of the Manhattan Project is described. There are two links to picture of nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel.