1. Group Activity

2. TEK
USH .8.B
describe how Cold War tensions were intensified by the arms race, the space race, McCarthyism, and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), the findings of which were confirmed by the Venona Papers

3. Materials Videos Textbook
Duck and Cover
Fallout
He May be a Communist
Textbook
Flip Video Cameras w/Windows Moviemaker or iMovie

4. Learning Targets
Students will be able to explain how Cold War tensions impacted American behavior
Students will be able to explain the government role in shaping American attitudes towards various Cold War events

5. Objective
The student will be able to explain how elements of the Cold War impacted the behavior of everyday Americans and how government helped shape public attitudes

6. Essential Questions
How did average American react to the House Un-American Activity Committee?
Did the increasing paranoia concerning Communist infiltration of American society have any basis in fact?
How did government prepare American society for life in the Age of the Bomb?
Did government contribute to Cold War tensions in American society?

7. Lesson Delivery
Students will create a Public Service Announcement video covering Cold War topics such as the Atomic Bomb and Communist influences in American society
Students will be divided into groups of 4-5
Groups will choose a topic for their PSA from one discussed in class earlier
Groups will research their topic and plan their video by creating a storyboard that will contain their narrative and proposed camera shots

8. Lesson Delivery
Students will turn in their storyboard for approval and access to a camera for filming the PSA (the storyboard will be turned in after filming for a grade)
Students will film their PSA and turn in their assignment to the teacher electronically (disc, flash-drive, student vault, etc.) for a grade
Students are encouraged to be creative and humor is allowed – it does not have to be serious but it does have to be historically accurate
Videos will be presented to the class on a voluntary basis
Videos will be graded using the following rubric:

9. Lesson Delivery Item Points Possible Points Earned
Historical Accuracy of Material 70
Creativity 15
Quality of Finished Product
Total Points

10. Understanding / Assessment
Student understanding of the topics will be gauged during discussion of the films as they are presented
Assessment is provided by the two graded assignments: storyboard and film

11. Reteach
Classroom discussion of the topics and the related US PSA films
They may seem hokey – but are they valid examples of American society during that time?

12. Closure / Summary Discuss the project with the class
What are important issues today that are stressed via PSAs?
Will current PSAs be viewed in the future the way we view those of the Cold War?