Buncombe County Schools
Essential Standards Curriculum Framework
2012-2013
Grade 8 Social Studies
Unit 6: Cold War Era
Length: 4 weeks
NC
Essential
Standards
And
Clarifying
Objectives
8.H.1.1
8.H.1.2
8.H.1.3
8.H.1.4
8.H.2.1
8.H.2.2
8.H.2.3
8.H.3.1
8.H.3.2
8.H.3.3
8.H.3.4
8.G.1.1
8.E.1.1
8.E.1.2
8.C&G.1.1
8.C&G.1.3
8.C&G.1.4
Concepts and
Generalizations
Topics and Facts
Key Skills
Students will
understand that…
The similarities and
differences between
communism and
capitalism as well as
totalitarianism and
democracy have
caused great conflicts
in our history.
Students will
know…
The meaning of
“Cold War” and
when the term came
into use.
Students will be
able to…
Use different
sources of
information to
better understand
the Cold War
causes and effects
Discover video on
“The Rise of
Communism” and
“Joseph Stalin”
Use a set of
criteria to decide
whether or not
America’s
containment
policy was
effective or even
necessary.
Library of Congress
primary and
secondary source
material on the
history of
Communism
The differences
between Soviet and
American
government, ideology
and economics
sparked the Cold War.
America combated
America’s
containment policy
and why it was
deemed necessary.
The differences
between
communism and
capitalism.
That McCarthyism
and the actions of
Formulate an
Activities/Resources
History Alive!
materials
the History Channel
video library of
Formative
Assessments
Students create
PowerPoint
presentations
that identify a
timeline of the
key events of the
Cold War Era.
Students create a
“play” or
Reader’s Theatre
that tells the
story of the
“Cuban Missile
Crisis.”
Develop a
8.C&G.2.1
8.C&G.2.3
Literacy
Reading
Standards
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
,9,10
Literacy
Writing
Standards
1.a,b,c,d,e
2. a,b,c,d,e,f
3. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10
communist and
totalitarian ideologies
throughout the world
with propaganda,
war, alliances, and
economic sanctions.
There was a political
and ideological
divide within the
American population
between people who
supported Cold war
policy and those who
challenged it.
the House
Committee on UnAmerican Activities
(HUAC) and
blacklisting were
examples of abuse
of the Democratic
process in the U.S.
directly linked to
the international
anti-Communist
furor.
That the Korean
War and the
Vietnam Conflict
were examples of
the U.S. military
policy of
“containment.”
Turning points and
leadership from
military, social,
political, and
economic
perspectives led to the That the institution
outcomes of the Cold
of the Military
War Era.
Draft policy in the
U.S. during the
There has been a
Vietnam crisis
transition of
caused individuals
American policy from to choose between
counter-communism
their personal
to counter-terrorism.
freedom and their
duty to country.
How terms like
Draft Dodger,
opinion based on
primary and
secondary texts
detailing
communism and
capitalism and
write about the
pros and cons of
each.
Sequence and
evaluate the
significance of the
events of the
Vietnam War
from early
involvement
through the final
withdrawal of
U.S. troops in 1975
including the antiwar protests on
the home front.
Evaluate the
threat the Cuban
Missile Crisis
posed to America
and draw
conclusions about
Kennedy’s
leadership role
through those 13
days.
material on the Red
Scare and
McCarthyism
“The Missiles of
October” video that
chronicles the Cuban
Missile Crisis
Double Bubble
Map that
compares and
contrasts the
principles of
democracy and
communism.
Conscientious
Objector, and anti
war demonstrator
became part of
national vocabulary
during the Vietnam
Era.
How President
Kennedy and
Premier
Khrushchev led
their nations to the
brink of nuclear war
during the Cuban
Missile Crisis.
The significance of
the collapse of
Soviet Union.
Details surrounding
the Reagan
administration and
its foreign military
policy and “Trickle
Down” economic
policy.
That political
propaganda and
economic boycotts
were two strategies
used effectively to
Identify the
causes of the
collapse of the
Soviet Union and
formulate an
opinion based on
various sources as
to the effects this
had on the U.S.
Evaluate the
effectiveness of
Reagan’s Trickle
Down economic
policy and
compare it to
policies that are
more directed to
stimulate growth
through middlelow income
earners.
put an end to the
Cold War.
Similarities and
differences between
Cold War policies
and current foreign
policies.
The reasons for the
transition of
American policy
from countercommunism to
counter-terrorism.