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The Korean War Lesson Plan

Ninth Grade Social Studies: U.S History
Michigan Curriculum Framework Content Standards and Benchmarks:
o USHG Era 8 Post World War II United States (19145-1989)
Unit Outcome: 8.1 Cold War and the United States/ 8.2 Domestic Policies
o Identify, analyze, and explain the causes, conditions, and impact of the Cold War
Era on the United States
o Examine, analyze, and explain demographic changes, domestic policies, conflicts
and tensions in Post-WWII America
Lesson Outcome: 8.1.2 Foreign Policy during the Cold War/ 8.2.2 Policy Concerning
Domestic Issues
o Evaluate the origins, setbacks, and successes of the American policy of
containing the Soviet Union including the armed struggle with Communism,
including the Korean conflict
The Learner Will
o Understand how China became Communist

Mao Zedong formed the Peoples Republic of China

Zedong defeated Chiang Kai-Shek who was a former ally to the U.S
during WW2

o Know why the U.S went to Korea

Prevent the spread of Communism from controlling Korea

Why the Korean War, was not really a war

Police Action

Congress did not declare war on North Korea

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o Know what were the outcomes of the Korean War

Stalemate ending where the fighting had began

U.S military stationed along the 38th Parallel is still present

Purpose of this Lesson

o The U.S involvement in the Cold War had previously helped prevent starvation
from occurring in Berlin, and saved Greece and Turkey from Communism with
the use of the U.S foreign policies like the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine.
Now, students will learn how this expended into actual combat against
communism during the Korean War. Students need to learn this because the U.S
concerns over North Korea are still present today and students should learn where
this originated from.
Assessments
o As a review of the previous homework, I will ask the students about their
propaganda or comic strip, having the students state what they meant by what
they drew.
o During the short PowerPoint, the students will be asked what they think of the
Korean War and how we were combating against communism with U.S troops.

Would they have enlisted in this fight or not?

o Following this the class will be divided into two groups (one group pro-Truman,
on pro-MacArthur) after they are done researching in class (no longer than fifteen
minutes) they will present their views and explain why they felt their pro group
was correct

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This is to provide students with an opportunity to develop a stronger view

of the Korean War and to help them develop their research skills.

o For homework the students will read chapter twelve in their textbooks which
covers what was presented in the lecture in more detail, following this, the
students will define the key terms that is given to them and with defining each
term they have to explain why each term is important. This gives purpose to each
term rather than just having them define what it is.
o
Materials needed
o Students will need their writing utensils and notebooks in order to take notes on
the brief PowerPoint presentation.
o The PowerPoint titled The Korean War located on the teachers computer under
the file U.S History.
o A copy of the homework list for each student
Introduction
o For the beginning of this lesson, students will enter the classroom and take their
seats before the final bell. I will ask the students about their homework
assignment and will specifically what the Berlin Airlift was about and what were
the U.S Foreign policies at this time. I will call on students who raise their hand
and this will be a quick check for understanding. Following this I will collect the
homework by having the students send their papers to the last row to left and then
the teacher will collect them from there.
o Next, I will present to the students a quick introduction to what part of the lesson
will be about. On the first PowerPoint slide there is a hyperlink to a clip for the
students to see, the clip is of an episode from the 1970s TV show M*A*S*H,

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only play the opening credits which is forty-eight seconds. Explain to the
students that this was a hit show during the 1970s about a fictional military
hospital in South Korea during the Korean War and that many of the students
grandparents or parents may have seen it before.
Procedure
o Next I will inform the students that they will be learning about the Korean War
today. To make a personal connection to the students I will ask them if they had
any family members fight in this war. My Fiances grandpas both fought in the
war so it is possible for students to still have relatives who fought in it. While
presenting the PowerPoint, I will call on different students to read bullets on each
slide. After which, I will provide additional information about each slide.
o The PowerPoint Outline

Chinas decent into Communism

Korean War Begins

During this slide, I will ask the students if the remember what the
United Nations is?

A large organization created after WW2 that would work as

peacekeepers on Earth

I will also ask them if they know who leads military operations by
the UN

The U.S

There is a map on this slide that is to show the students where the 38th
Parallel is and where the fighting occurred.

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Point out how far the UN pushed North Korea back across the 38th
Parallel

General Douglas MacArthur

o Following the lecture, I will split the students up into two groups. One group will
be pro-Truman and one will be pro-MacArthur. Next I will explain to them that
they will be doing a quick researching assignment (no longer than fifteen minutes)
and following this the students will need to present their views and debate over
which group was the right choice.
o After allowing them to research, I will call on the groups to present their
arguments.
Closure
o Before class is dismissed pass out the homework list for students to complete and
tell them it is due tomorrow.