Instructional Video

On This Day: Cuban Missile Crisis

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Just how close was the world to nuclear war in October 1962? Using White House audio tapes recording John F. Kennedy and his advisors, aerial footage, and newsreels, learners decide for themselves. Historians also weigh in on the Cuban Missile Crisis and lessons people learned from it. 

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • View the intelligence film produced by the CIA to stimulate a conversation about reliable sources of historical information
  • Create a continuum debate for class members to decide how close the United States came to nuclear war
Classroom Considerations
  • Teachers must create a free C-SPAN Classroom account or use the following login credentials: Username: students, Password: C-SPANCLASSROOM
Pros
  • Primary sources are gripping and add authenticity to the video
  • White House audio tapes and recon footage from the crisis let pupils view history firsthand
Cons
  • One clip cuts off in mid-sentence