The 1960s and the Cold War: Exploring a Decade of Change

The 1960s and the Cold War: Exploring a Decade of Change

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand the significance of the 1960s and the Cold War, including major personalities and key events.

What do you already know about the 1960s and the Cold War?

What Was the Cold War?

The Cold War was a period of political tension and military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, without direct armed conflict.

Key Events of the 1960s

The 1960s saw significant events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, and the moon landing.

Major Personalities

Important figures of the 1960s include John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Neil Armstrong.

John F. Kennedy

President of the United States during the early 1960s, known for his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A key leader in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for racial equality and nonviolent protest.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

A tense confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over the placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Interactive Activity: Moon Landing

Discuss the historic Apollo 11 mission that led to the first human landing on the moon in 1969.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.