Tennessee State Library & Archives
Vietnam War
A picture can speak 1000 words. Scholars research the Vietnam War through the lens of a camera. Examining photos from the collection of Christopher D. Ammons allows open interpretation of life during one of America's darkest conflicts....
Curated OER
The Cold War: Civil Defense or Nuclear Disarmament?
Students research the positions of civil defense and nuclear disarmament during the Cold War era. They participate in a class debate to support a given position.
Curated OER
Resolving Kennedy's Legacy
Eleventh graders investigate the medical condition that plagued John F. Kennedy throughout his life. In this US History lesson, 11th graders read and analyze uncovered documents in relation to Kennedy. Students write a report...
Stanford University
Korean War
Learners study the cause of the Korean War. In this World history instructional activity, High schoolers read excerpts from two different textbooks, one from South Korea, and one from North Korea. They discuss how the cause of the war...
Curated OER
The Consequences of World War II
Ninth graders explore the aftermath of World War II. In this World War II lesson, 9th graders investigate the consequences of the war as they complete a post-assessment project that requires them to compose essays on the topic.
US House of Representatives
Keeping the Faith: African Americans Return to Congress, 1929–1970
The third lesson in a unit that traces the history of African Americans serving in the US Congress examines the period from 1929 through 1970. After reading a contextual essay that details the few African Americans elected to Congress...
Curated OER
School Desegregation in South Carolina
Eleventh graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this North Carolina history lesson, 11th graders examine the Briggs v. Elliott case in order to understand the difference in the state and...
Curated OER
The Cold War: Planning for Survival
Students prepare a documentary-style dramatization about government and personal measures taken to ensure survival in the event of nuclear war.
Curated OER
W.A.R.M.E.R. Comprehension Worksheet
In this Cold War worksheet, students respond to 6 short answer questions regarding the end of the Cold War that feature the letters of the word "warmer" as mnemonic hooks.
Curated OER
618,000: Shall Not Have Died in Vain
Students explore the American Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students examine a slave auction advertisement and an Abraham Lincoln quote. Students also read Pink and Say, create a foldable regarding naval warfare, and design a...
Curated OER
Thaw in the Cold War: Eisenhower and Khrushchev at Gettysburg
Middle schoolers discover how President Eisenhower's brand of diplomacy at this Pennsylvania farm temporarily eased the tensions of the Cold War.
Curated OER
The Russian Years: Back in the USSR
Learners examine communist Russia. In this lesson plan on changes in politics, students work in small groups to compare and contrast soviet communist era citizen rights to those of the US. They participate in discussion of a film and...
Curated OER
The Korean War - A Time Line Activity
Students create a Korean War time line. They identify, describe, and label nine of the key events and turning points of the Korean Conflict. They include all nine events listed on the direction sheet, contain a title, and have at...
Curated OER
What Would the United States Do?
In this U.S. history scenario worksheet, students use their critical thinking skills to explain how the U.S. would respond in a scenario that involves the Soviet Union sending support to Communist rebels in Nicaragua.
Curated OER
What is Communism?
Eleventh graders explore Communism. They explore Communism's roots in economics and discuss the spread of Communism in the Eastern Hemisphere. They evaluate a Communistic and a Capitalistic society. Students reflect upon the positives...
Curated OER
Communism and Containment
Students "discover" top secret documents that describe the "Patriot" program. They are assigned the task of educating the American people about the threat of Soviets taking over America, including the key points of the Truman Doctrine...
Curated OER
NATO and Russia: Will the Expansion of NATO Cause a New Cold War?
Eleventh graders role play as participants in a NATO meeting focused on inviting a number of independent republics from the former Soviet Union to become members of NATO. They represent their countries after researching them.
PBS
President Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign Policy Statesman or Bully?
Can a negative perception of a president's foreign policy harm his or her historical legacy? A project that winds the clock back to the date of Theodore Roosevelt's death puts students at the editorial desk of a fictional newspaper....
Curated OER
The Causes of Prohibition
Eleventh graders explore the origins of the Prohibition Movement in the United States. In small groups, they analyze the influence of World War I in the passage of the eighteenth amendment. Students explain how different demographics of...
Curated OER
Cuban Missile Crisis in Thirteen Days
Eleventh graders explore the Cuban Missile Crisis. In this Cuban Missile Crisis lesson plan, 11th graders take notes from a PowerPoint presentation regarding the topic and then watch the film "Thirteen Days". Students participate in...
Curated OER
The Cold War Warrior Defending: The Moral Beacon of the World
High schoolers identify President Reagan's domestic and foreign policy, describe America's attitude toward communism, list characteristics which endeared Reagan to the American people, and explain why some Americans spoke out against...
Curated OER
US Government: Foreign Policy (Part 1)
Students explore foreign policy. In this foreign policy lesson plan, students define terms regarding foreign policy. Students respond to questions regarding textbook readings and a lecture regarding U.S. foreign policy.
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...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
The Cuban Missile Crisis: How to Respond?
For 13 days, the United States stood on the edge of nuclear War. The Soviet Arms buildup in Cuba is the focus of an activity that asks groups to analyze how the governmental role each of John F. Kennedy's advisors played went on to...