Cold+War

** Teacher Name: ** Darryl Carr **Grade Level(s):** 9-12 **Course: Social Studies**
 * COLD WAR, 1946-1991 **

** Type of classroom activity to be performed: ** This lesson will be a cooperative learning activity using primary sources, maps, technology, and will address cross-curricular studies with a writing and multi-media assignment. ** Rationale: ** This lesson will allow students to create a visual representation of the perceived threats to Europe during the Cold War. By placing cities on maps and evaluating the surrounding topography, the students will analyze the Soviet War Plan to determine the reason certain cities were chosen. By comparing it to plans from previous wars, they will decide the validity of the plan and create a document stating their findings, with supporting information. ** Required time frame ** : 3-4 regular class periods. ** Anticipatory Lesson: **

[|Walter Winchell on Russia (2/17/46)]

[|Elmer Davis news broadcast (2/3/46)]

** Lesson Objectives—the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge in reference: **
 * Use map and technology skills to find the cities in the war plan on a map of Europe.
 * Analyze the map to determine the value of targets listed in the war plan.
 * Evaluate the plan as compared to Hitler’s blitzkrieg or Schlieffin’s plans for World War I, to determine the feasibility of the plans.
 * Create a short document revealing their findings with supporting data.
 * Create a 30-second Public Service Announcement.

** Secondary Materials: ** ** Primary Sources: ** ** Technology Required: ** · Computer access to Gazetteer website, ability to blow up a map to large proportions ** Fully describe the activity or assignment in detail. What will both you and the students do? ** This assignment would follow a discussion on public concern during the Cold War including the use of bomb shelters, public service commercials, and others to set the tone of fear that existed during the Cold War, particularly in the early years. This assignment will demonstrate the perception of nuclear threat on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Using the Document analysis worksheet with modifications, the students will look at the first section of the document. After the teacher gives a short biography of Antontin Novotny, the students will then work in pairs to analyze section 1, and determine what the Soviets thought of enemy strength and intentions. The main task for students in the first section will be to determine whether the document was a defensive or offensive plan. Using a class discussion, following the analysis, the class should determine that this document was indeed a defensive plan. The students will be divided into five or six groups and sections 2-12 divided among them. Using a blank map of Europe, the students will access the online gazetteer, and place the cities mentioned in the war plan on the map. Using the map along with an atlas, they will place the topographical features on the map. One member of the group will also transfer the city locations and plans of attack (planes, infantry, etc) on a combined map that will give the students the whole picture when completed. Each group will mount their completed map on a poster, with the details of their sections of the attack including troop strength, and armament. Each group will work together to analyze their section of the map to determine why the Soviets considered certain cities vital to their war plans. They will also examine Hitler’s blitzkrieg through France and the Schlieffen plan, and their outcomes, and compare those to the Cold War plan, to assess the feasibility of the Soviet plan.
 * Map of Europe with latitude and longitude markings (large enough to be used by a group) http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/europe/europe_ref_2000.jpg
 * A World Atlas
 * Various books with information on Eastern Europe, the Schlieffen Plan and Blitzkrieg plans
 * NARA Document Analysis Worksheet http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/written_document_analysis_worksheet.pdf
 * Plan of actions of the Czechoslovak People’s Army for War Period 1964 Czech plan of action, Plan of Action
 * World Gazetteer: http://www.world-gazetteer.com/

** Assessment: ** Each student will individually produce a short (3-5) paragraph statement of their findings. In addition, a 30 second, Public Service Announcement about the threat of nuclear war must be recorded on DVD. The statement, along with the PSA will be graded with the attached rubric.