View/Download PDF


The Cuban Missile Crisis


Christine Nobley


None


The purpose of this lesson is for students to recognize that the world has never come closer to a nuclear war than it did during a thirteen-day period in October, 1962, after the realization that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba.  In achieving this understanding, students will:


 


60 minutes


1S3


Why did the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba bring the world to the brink of a nuclear war?


 

Using the Social Studies text book's world map, students will locate Cuba, the United States of America, the Soviet Union,and the Atlantic Ocean.  Students will be given a blank copy of a world map.  On the blank world map, students will color Cuba in red crayon, the Soviet Union in green crayon, the United States in yellow crayon, and the Atlantic Ocean in blue crayon.  Students will then make a map key.

Web Site for World Map:  http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/his135/Exams/Map.html

Students will then complete the Cuban Missile Crisis Vocabulary page, matching the term to the correct definition.  Terms include:  Cold War, communism, democracy, Fidel Castro, Cuban Missile Crisis, Nikita Khrushchev, John F. Kennedy, Cuba, missile, crisis, superpower, fallout shelter.

 


Teacher will describe  a mock situation to students.  Tell students, "You have just been told that your entire family has to go into hiding for two months.  Working in groups of 4, make a list of all the things your family will need to survive in hiding, remembering that there will most likely be no electricity available.  Also consider that you will be hiding in a space about the size of a small bedroom."

Discuss. Have each group share their list with the class.  Did you remember that no refrigerated foods could be listed?  All foods would have to be dry, canned, or jarred.  Did you consider how these foods would be heated?  Did you think about pots, pans, dishes, silverware?  Did you remember to include a can opener?  Bottled water?  What about entertainment?  What will you do all day and night, for two months? Did you include books?  Paper and pens?  A deck of cards?  Board games?  A radio(Batteries)?  What will you do for lighting, as your shelter will probably be dark day and night? Flashlight (Batteries)? Candles? Kerosene?   What about medical care?  Do you have a first-aid kit?  Over the counter medications?  Did you remember any prescription medications for each family member?  What will happen if someone has a medical emergency?  How will you bathe?  Wash and dry clothes?      


Review with students that after WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as Superpowers.  The Soviet Union was desperately behind the Unites States in the arms race.  The Soviet Union's missiles could only be launched in Europe because they travelled a shorter distance.  The missiles in the United States, however, were capable of striking across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way to the entire Soviet Union. 

 Review both Bell Assignments.  Check to make certain that students correctly identified the locations of Cuba, the United States, the Soviet Union, and the Atlantic Ocean.   Go over the correct answers to the "Cuban Missile Crisis Vocabulary" page.  On chart paper, write the definitions to the terms to be displayed for students to refer to as needed during class.

Divide the students into 2 groups (perhaps boys on one "team", girls on the other).  Each groups will stand at opposite sides of the room, in a horizontal line, facing each other.  Designate one team as "Cuba", the other team as "United States".  Tell students that you are going to describe how the Cuban Missile Crisis developed, how Cuba and the United States responded, and how the situation was ultimately resolved.  Instruct the teams to take one step forward if they interpret any action or event as an act of aggression against "their" country.  Any time they feel scared or threatened as a country, they should step forward.  The sequence of events is available in a hard copy, which is easier to read. 

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

 

1.  1959:          Castro takes over Cuba and forms a communist government there.  Ask students which country would be threatened by this?  Why?

(Team USA should take a step forward because this marks the first time communism enters the western hemisphere and the U.S considers this a threat to democracy).

2.  1961:          Bay of Pigs Invasion.  April 15-April 19

                        Explain that after Castro took over Cuba, many Cubans fled to the U.S.. 

The CIA worked with these exiles training them and supplying them with weapons so that they could go back to Cuba and overthrow Castro's new government.  The Cuban exiles, without any protective air cover from the U.S. government, landed in the Bay of Pigs.  This invasion was a disaster- the exiles were killed/captured.   Which country could have considered this an act of aggression?

(Team Cuba should take a step forward because they felt the U.S. was aiding in the overthrow of their government).

3.  10/15/62:    A photo taken by American pilot Richard Heyser showed that there were

Soviet missiles being installed in Cuba.  Castro, fearful that the U.S. wanted him overthrown, allowed the Soviet Union to place missiles on

his island as a way to defend himself from an American attack. 

Ask students which country might step closer to war.

(Team USA should step forward, because they now have nuclear missiles

in enemy control just 90 miles from Florida).

4.  10/16/62     President John F. Kennedy is told of these missiles in Cuba.  His advisers

wanted an immediate air strike against Cuba.  Which country is going to become nervous?

                        (Team Cuba should step forward, as they await a possible air attack)

5.  10/17/62     Another American pilot discovered missiles in Cuba that could not only reach Florida, but most of the continental United States.  Who is nervous now?

                        (Team USA should step forward.  These missiles could now destroy the entire U.S.)

6.  10/21/62     President Kennedy decides against the suggested air strikes.  Instead, he sets up a blockade (quarantine) around the island of Cuba.  He wanted to prevent the arrival of more Soviet weapons in Cuba.  Who would this anger?

                        (Team Cuba should step forward)

7.  10/22/62     Kennedy announces to the public the discovery of the missiles in Cuba. 

                        The U.S. military has instructions to be prepared to launch missiles at Cuba within minutes of the President's speech.  (Team Cuba step forward)  Castro mobilizes all of Cuba's military forces. (Team America step forward)  Kennedy says that any missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack by the Soviet Union.  Kennedy demands the removal of weapons in Cuba.

8.  10/24/62     Soviet ships approach the quarantine (blockade) line. 

                        (Team America step forward)

9.  10/25/62     United Nations ambassador confronts the Soviet Union.  The Soviets refused to answer any questions.  Kennedy raises the readiness level of American troops. 

                        (Both teams take a step forward.  The Soviets appear unwilling to discuss the matter.  The Americans appear ready to attack). 

10.  10/26/62   The United States receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that the Soviets would remove the missiles from Cuba if Kennedy publicly guaranteed that the U.S. would never invade Cuba. 

                        (Team America can take one step backwards). 

11.  10/27/07   Worst day of the crisis. 

                        The Soviets spot a U.S. plane flying over their country.  (Team Cuba step forward-  this could be interpreted as an attack).  This plane is actually just lost, and is not shot down).  Another U.S. plane is flying over Cuba taking pictures of missile sites.  (Team Cuba step forward- not sure what this plane is up to)  Cuba shoots down this plane.  (Team America step forward- Cuba threw the "first punch")  Khruchchev sends a second letter saying that they will withdraw missiles from Cuba, if the U.S. promises not to attack Cuba AND removes all missiles from Turkey.  (Team America can take a step backwards-  the Soviets appear willing to discuss the situation). 

12.  10/28/07   Khrushchev announces that the Soviet Union will dismantle all nuclear missiles in Cuba, even though the U.S. did not agree to remove missiles from Turkey.  (Team America and Cuba each take 5 steps backwards.  Khrushchev ruined his career, but prevented a nuclear disaster). 

13. 1963          The Soviet Union and the U.S. sign the Hot Line Agreement establishing a communication link between the two countries to use in times of emergencies.  This will hopefully prevent any future confrontations from escalating to the point of the Cuban missile Crisis. 

                        (Both teams return to their seats).

 

DISCUSSION

Did this activity demonstrate that each country did certain things that the other country could have interpreted as acts of aggression?  Can you see why so many people in the United States lived in fear of a nuclear war during this time? Would you have been afraid? 

 Student Activity

Explain to students that as this crisis escalated, many people around the country felt a war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was inevitable.  Many people began to make preparations for a nuclear holocaust.  One such preparation included building a fallout shelter and filling it with enough supplies for at least 2 weeks (most planned for 2 months).  Television broadcasts and newspaper articles offered suggestions for surviving a nuclear attack.  Even the LaGrange Daily News had articles about how to prepare for and survive a nuclear tragedy. 

Students will work in groups of 2-3 and read the LDN article, "What Would You Do in Case of an Enemy Attack?" and answer the following questions:

1.  Does the title of this article indicate that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a life or death situation?

2.  How far underground should an underground shelter be built?

3.  What 2 things do you need for almost total protection?

4.  A basement shelter would cut radiation danger by what fraction?

5.  How much water should be in the shelter for each person?

6.  How will you know when to go into your shelter?

7.  Why do you need powdered milk as opposed to regular milk?

8.  What would you do if you were outside?

9.  What would you do if you were in a car?

10.  After the attack, what would you do to your windows and doors?  Your clothes?  your body?

Examine the Troup County Community Shelter Plan.  Examine the LaGrange Shelter Map.  Did the people of LaGrange, Georgia feel the effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis?  Were their fears legitimate? How would you have felt at this time?   


Key vocabulary: Vocabulary Bingo

  

 


None


Cuban Missile Crisis Vocabulary_Nobley 1S3
Cuban Missile Crisis Sequence of Events_Nobley 1S3
Blank Word Bingo Board_Nobley 1S3
3 LaGrange Daily News Articles_Nobley 1S3

Site by Kelsey.