Lesson Plan

• Describe the major U.S. policies and strategies (e.g., Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NSC‑68) used to contain communism.
• Analyze short‑term results and long‑term impacts of key U.S. interventions.
• Evaluate the overall effectiveness of containment using evidence from case studies.
• Explain the economic, military, political and ideological factors that influenced success or failure.

• Projector and screen
• PowerPoint slides with timeline and policy summaries
• Handout containing the effectiveness table
• Primary‑source excerpts (e.g., Truman Doctrine speech)
• World map highlighting Cold‑War hotspots
• Exit‑ticket cards

Begin with a striking image of the Berlin Wall and ask students what “containment” might look like in everyday life. Connect to prior knowledge of the Cold War’s ideological clash. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to judge how successful U.S. containment really was.

1. Do‑now (5') – Write a one‑sentence definition of “containment” and share with a partner.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Present key U.S. policies (Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NSC‑68, etc.) with a timeline slide.
3. Group analysis (15') – In small groups, examine the effectiveness table and answer guided questions about short‑term vs. long‑term outcomes.
4. Case‑study stations (20') – Rotate through stations on Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Afghanistan, and Poland; each station includes a primary source excerpt and a brief data sheet.
5. Whole‑class debate (10') – “Was U.S. containment overall successful?” using evidence gathered.
6. Check for understanding (5') – Exit ticket: state the single most important factor that determined the success of U.S. containment.

Summarise the mixed legacy of U.S. containment, highlighting both notable successes and costly failures. Collect exit tickets to gauge each student’s final judgement. Assign a short homework: write a 150‑word reflection on how economic aid versus military force contributed to the outcome.