Teaching American History
lesson plan template
One of the requirements for TAH Fellows is that each teacher will submit one or more lessons this year to be shared
with your colleagues. Lesson plans will be submitted electronically (Word, PowerPoint, FlipChart, PDF documents)
so that they can be posted to the project website. If you have a hard copy and need help converting it to electronic
form, we will provide assistance. Lessons can be on any topic in U.S. History that is of interest to the teacher and
meets one or more of the California State Standards (and preferably one that matches the grade-level essential
standards we agreed upon).
No matter what format your lesson utilizes, please use this template so that all of our lessons will have common
elements, some of which are grant requirements, and others that will make your lesson more user-friendly to other
teachers. The point of this activity is to develop and share some high quality U.S. History lessons that can be used
beyond your classroom.
1. Teacher name: Matthew Long
2. Grade level of this lesson: 11
3. California State Standard(s) met:
11.9.3. Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and
containment policy, including the following:
 The era of McCarthyism, instances of domestic Communism (e.g., Alger Hiss) and
blacklisting
 The Truman Doctrine
 The Berlin Blockade
 The Korean War
 The Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis
 Atomic testing in the American West, the “mutual assured destruction” doctrine,
and disarmament policies
 The Vietnam War
 Latin American policy
4. Title or description of your lesson:
“Are you now, or have you ever been…”: An introduction to America in the time of Joe McCarthy
5. What your learning objective is:
Given background readings, primary sources, and an introductory TAPPLE lecture, and a 10 minute
short film, students will generate a list of the critical attributes of the concept of McCarthyism.
6. Actual lesson content (lecture notes, charts, PowerPoint, student product, etc. can be attached):
A. Powerpoint (attached)
B. McCarthy telegram to Truman 2/11/50
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/mccarthy-telegram/
C. Truman’s draft response to McCarthy
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/mccarthy-telegram/
D. John Howard Lawson’s testimony before HUAC 10/2719/47 excerpted from The Age of
McCarthyism : A brief history with documents Ellen Schrecker, ed. pp.203-207
E. Communist Party Membership Card
Life July 26, 1946 page 84 (avalable on Google).
F. The Cold War Comes Home Hollywood Blacklists the Kahn Family (from DVD companion
to The Americans textbook.
7. Methods/strategies you will use to make sure students are engaged and involved:
Dramatization of HUAC hearing, visual rich PowerPoint.
8. How you will check for understanding during the lesson (use of Explicit Direct Instruction,
TAPPLE, or other methods):
TAPPLE
TAPPLE, classroom observations,
9. How you will determine student comprehension of the content and/or mastery of skills after the
lesson:
Students will write their own definitions of McCarthyism based upon critical attributes of the term
generated in class; students will share their definitions aloud in class; students will also write a one
paragraph “ID” on McCarthyism on their next test.
10. If applicable, how you will differentiate or adapt the lesson for English Learners, or for other
special needs students in your class (special education, GATE, 504 Plan, etc.):
Not applicable.