Cold War: Causes & Origins Teacher Pass

Nothing red or scary here.

Contrary to what many students (and, admittedly, a few of us) may think, the Cold War wasn't caused by a moose, squirrel, and a couple of spies with thick Russian accents. Instead of Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris, and Natasha, we have Truman, MacArthur, McCarthy, and Stalin.

In this guide you will find

  • writing assignments asking students to look at the other side of the Cold War.
  • activities analyzing the images and symbols of this atomic age.
  • links to modern articles on how the Cold War is still a bit chilly today.

This guide will help you make sure the Cold War doesn't leave students frozen with boredom or confusion.

What's Inside Shmoop's History Teaching Guides

Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our teaching guides will help you supplement in-classroom learning with fun, engaging, and relatable learning materials that bring history to life.

Inside each guide you'll find quizzes, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more—all written by experts and designed to save you time. Here are the deets on what you get with your teaching guide:

  • 3-5 Common Core-aligned activities (including quotation, image, and document analysis) to complete in class with your students, with detailed instructions for you and your students. 
  • Discussion and essay questions for all levels of students.
  • Reading quizzes to be sure students are looking at the material through various lenses.
  • Resources to help make the topic feel more relevant to your 21st-century students.
  • A note from Shmoop’s teachers to you, telling you what to expect from teaching the topic and how you can overcome the hurdles.

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