SS.7.CG.4.3

This is the final lesson, which is a culminating activity, and will focus on a combination of parts from the unit series. This lesson will assist students in determining the two main themes of A Long Walk to Water by analyzing important symbols and events related to the United States’ involvement in international conflicts.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

The lesson will present students with the artwork by artists Maya Lin and Fredrick Hart. Within this lesson, students will be given background information about the Cold War and Vietnam War including the reason for our involvement and the political and social ramifications that came about from the war. We will discuss the importance that the visual imagery through television had on public opinion. Students will then look at Maya Lin’s “Vietnam Veterans Memorial” initially. Once finished, we will discuss the political and public reasons for the installation of “Three Soldiers,” which is a more traditional, realistic statue. Students will compare and contrast the two, and eventually focus on the intention and ramifications of a public monument based on aesthetics, conceptualization and public opinion in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will be introduced to international conflicts, examples of international conflicts in which the United States has been involved, and the various ways governments can respond to international conflicts. Students will break into small groups to research background information on the international conflict they have been assigned and to analyze primary sources related to their conflict. Students may present their findings at this point as part of a shorter lesson or can utilize different class periods to conduct deeper research. If the latter, students will produce a visual aid (presentation slide(s), poster, video, etc.) they will use to teach the class about their assigned conflict.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will identify and explain different international conflicts the United States has been involved in. Students will complete a timeline summarizing the conflicts and learning about American involvement. Students will compare U.S. exit from two conflicts of their choice.

Type: Lesson Plan

Learn about 5 international conflicts involving the United States from 1961 to the present, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Iraq War in this interactive tutorial. For each, you'll learn how the conflict began and how the U.S. responded.

Click HERE to open the companion tutorial, "International Conflicts: 1914 to 1975."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

In this interactive tutorial, learn about 4 international conflicts in which the United States was involved between 1914 and 1975: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. For each conflict, you'll learn how and why the U.S. became involved and what the outcome was.

Click HERE to open the companion tutorial, "International Conflicts: 1961 to Present."

Type: Original Student Tutorial

This Grade 7 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 4 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea

This teaching resource provides the tools to help students analyze the use of rhetorical devices in the historical American speech by Judge Learned Hand, “The Spirit of Liberty.” Delivered in 1944 during the height of WWII, Judge Hand delivers a powerful message about the true essence of liberty through his use of two rhetorical devices—anaphora and rhetorical questions. Students will analyze his use of these rhetorical devices to better understand their meaning and significance.

Type: Text Resource

Alejandro Brice and his family immigrated from Cuba at the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. His father was jailed as a counter-revolutionary sympathizer and upon release, the family fled the country. Dr. Brice shares his memories of his “freedom wings”, the culture shock of growing up in Ohio as immigrants, learning English in elementary school, watching his family start over, and becoming a U.S. Citizen. Dr. Brice is a college professor specializing in the education of immigrant children and English language learners.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Ivonne Blank immigrated to the United States in 1961 as part of Operation Pedro Pan, the largest exodus on unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. Ms. Blank talks about how difficult it was waiting for her parents and living in an orphanage in Denver, CO. Her parents later left the island by boat, were rescued by the Coast Guard, and resettled in the United States. After the family was reunited, they were able to rebuild their lives with support from their community. Ms. Blank went on to become a lifelong educator and U.S. citizen.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation