Lesson Plan Introduction
TAH Spring Semester 2012
Introduction
This lesson is used in correspondence with a post World War II introduction lesson. The
students will be introduced to dialogue, vocabulary and print advertisements from the
1940s/1950s. The lesson will open with the students reading a few humorous quotes from the
time period. We will then discuss how many things changed as a result of World War II, and also
compare that time period with current day. From that point, the students will discuss the
vocabulary written on the board. A PowerPoint presentation will then be displayed showing the
students what advertisements looked like in post World War II America. I will then split the kids
up into groups where they will be doing a mini research project on print advertisements. The
students will be required to research and choose one print advertisement from the 1940s/1950s
and also one current day advertisement to compare. (For example, the students could choose a
Coca Cola advertisement from the 1950s and compare it with a Coca Cola advertisement from
current day.) The students will produce an oral presentation using PowerPoint, which will serve
as their assessment for this lesson.
Lesson Plan # __1__
TAH Grant-Spring Semester 2012
Lesson Plan Title: Causes & Consequences of the Second World War
Class periods projected to spend on plan: 1-3 (Allow 1 class period for presentations)
Plan focus: Check on of the following:
Primary sources
Technology
Reading like a Historian model
Technology to be used: Computer with internet access
Lesson Objectives

Discuss the U.S. economy, society, and politics in the years following World War
II.

Explain the rise in advertising during this period by reviewing various print
advertisements from the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Research a print advertisement from current day and compare it to an advertisement
from the 1940s/1950s
CLE(s):
United States History 3a.x Causes, comparisons, and results of major twentieth-century wars:
Examine the wars of the twentieth-century pertinent to US history including: causes,
comparisons, consequences and peace efforts
United States History 3a.y Understanding cultural changes: Describe the changing character of
American society and culture (i.e., arts and literature, education and philosophy, religion and
values, and science and technology)
Outline of lesson: (include all activities, teacher input, etc.)
Begin the lesson by showing the class these various quotes on a powerpoint or a handout:
“Go fetch my slippers and get me something to drink from the icebox. I’ll be sitting on
the veranda with my feet up on the ottoman.”
“But Dad, everyone is waiting for me in the vestibule. I want to play stickball and hang
out on Jimmy’s stoop and listen to 45’s on his new Victrola.”
Explain to the student’s that the 1940s and 1950s were very different from what they experience
today as students. The dialogue was different, as well as the vocabulary used. After discussing
these quotes write the following vocabulary words on the board:
Cold War
Vaccuum
Cars
Communism Arms Race Baby Boom Assembly Lines
G.I. Bill
Television
Suburbs
Segregation
Labor Camps
At this time discuss with the class how drastically the U.S. economy, society, and politics
changed in the years following WWII. Discuss the above terms and have the students answer the
following questions:
1. What does each of the terms communicate about post-war America in the late 1940s and
early 1950s?
2. In what ways was this a time of prosperity and hope?
3. What were some challenges the nation faced?
From this point we will begin discussing the role of advertising during this era and how
advertising changed after WWII. We will also discuss why this was an exciting time for
advertising in America. PowerPoint can be used to showcase several types of ads from the 1940s
and 1950s. (see attached)
After the students have a well rounded understanding of advertising in the 1940s/1950s. I
will split them up into groups of 2-3. In the groups, the students will do a small research project
where they will pick a particular advertisement from the discussed time period. The students will
be creating a PowerPoint presentation comparing a particular product advertisement from the
1940s/1950s to the product’s current advertisement today. (For example, the students could use a
Coca Cola print ad from the 1940s and compare that to a Coca Cola print ad from present day.)
The PowerPoint should answer the following questions about their advertisements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What product is being advertised?
Who is the target audience?
How is the product described? What features are highlighted?
What claims does the ad make? What does it promise the product will
provide the buyer? (For example: comfort, excitement, popularity, beauty,
praise, prestige?)
5. Does this ad use symbols or stereotypes to sell the product? If so, which
ones?
6. Does this ad give any evidence or proof to support its claims? If so, what is
it?
7. What other information is included in the ad? (For example, was the
product's price included?) Was there any information you found interesting
or surprising?
8. What does the ad indicate about the U.S. in the post-war years?
9. Do you think this ad would be effective for a similar product today? Why or
why not?
10. How are the two advertisements similar?
11. How are they different? (For example, do they make similar claims for the
buyer? Do they use different symbols or stereotypes to sell the product?)
When all student presentations are completed, they will be presented to the class.
Documents to be used:
Please see attached.
*A PowerPoint presentation with a preview of advertisements from 1940s/1950s is
included. Others may be added if desired.
Assessment for lesson:
See attached rubric.