Learning Experience Plan

Subject: Social Studies Grade level: Eighth Grade

Unit: Foreign Policy and Communism Length of LEP (days/periods/minutes): 1

Day/25 Minutes

Topic: Why were Americans afraid of communism?

Content Standards:

8.7 FOREIGN POLICY: The period after World War II has been characterized by an
ideological and political struggle, first between the United States and communism during
the Cold War, then between the United States and forces of instability in the Middle East.
Increased economic interdependence and competition, as well as environmental concerns,
are challenges faced by the United States.
8.7b The United States based its military and diplomatic policies from 1945 to 1990 on a policy
of containment of communism. Students will examine the policy of containment and its
application in the postwar period, including the Marshall Plan, the Korean War, the Cuban
missile crisis, and the Vietnam War.

Literacy Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate
summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.

Learning Experience Outcomes Learning Experience Assessments

(knowledge/skills) Pamphlet Response Sheet
Students will:
Kahoot
Students will have informally provided Entrance activity
what they know (or dont know) about
the Cold War.
Students will have analyzed a national
primary source and categorized
information.
Students will have compared and
contrasted their knowledge before
viewing the pamphlet and their
knowledge after viewing the pamphlet.

Differentiation (What will you do to meet the needs of students at these different levels?)
Approaching On-level Beyond
Start the lesson with a Have these students work in These students will be able to

SMA Jacobs Page 1

relearning of containment and
communism, have them work
in pairs with people who are
on-level to help with
understanding.
Curriculum Integration
pairs and brainstorm ideas that start the homework early if they
show their understanding. finish the independent practice
before the rest of the class. They
will also be able to assist others
with their work.
(Does this lesson correlate with any other content area? Describe.)

Material Procedures/Strategies
s

Kahoot Day 1

What Sponge Activity

Everyone
On the board will be an entrance ticket that will tell students to break up
Should into pairs and begin listing as many US Presidents that dealt with the
Know containment of communism during their terms. They will then categorize
About them into categories of their choosing, I will emphasize to avoid obvious
Communis categories. After they finish they will go to another pair of students,
m compare their categories and discuss what they learned.
Worksheet
Anticipatory Set
Pamphlet
Response Why did Americans think Communism was bad?
Sheet Why were Americans afraid of Communism?
What did Americans do because of the fear?
PowerPoin
t
Activating Prior Knowledge

Students will have to know past presidents from 1945-1990 who fought for the
containment of communism. This will activate prior knowledge from past lessons and
help them to form categories. This will be shown through their entrance ticket activity.

Direct Instruction

A PowerPoint will be used to review with students definitions and locations of

communism and democracy.

Guided Practice (how students will demonstrate their grasp of new learning)

In groups, students will read the What Everyone Should Know About Communism
worksheet. They will then record at least 10 pieces of information on the response
sheet under the categories:

What did Americans think Communism was bad?

Why were Americans afraid of Communism?

SMA Jacobs Page 2

 What did Americans do because of the fear?
Independent Practice

Students will write a one page summary of how the Presidents who participated in the
containment of communism effected the three questions the students answered on the
response sheet.

Closure

The class will then play a game of kahoot that goes over presidents during the
containment of communism time period, definitions of communism and democracy,
and locations of communism and democracy.

References: (e.g. Book, course packet, pg #, complete web address URL)

http://www.usd116.org/ProfDev/AHTC/lessons/RuudFel08/RuudFel08Lesson2.htm

http://www.usd116.org/ProfDev/AHTC/lessons/RuudFel08/attachments/Lesson2/Ruud
%20CommunismPamphlet.pdf

SMA Jacobs Page 3

 Whos Afraid of the Big, Bad Communists?
Pamphlet Response Sheet
As you view the About Communism pamphlet, record some things you learn in the appropriate
columns. You should have at least 10 pieces of information recorded by the end of the class
period.

Why did Americans think Why were Americans What did Americans do
Communism was bad? afraid of Communism? because of the fear?

SMA Jacobs Page 4

 SMA Jacobs Page 5