Cuban Missile Crisis Lesson

In this lesson, students will examine how the Cuban Missile Crisis developed and explore how thirteen days in October 1962 brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. They will analyse the key decisions made by Kennedy and Khrushchev, investigate how diplomacy ultimately prevented a catastrophic conflict, and consider why the crisis led to lasting changes in how the two superpowers communicated with each other. Students will have the opportunity to achieve this through choosing their own method of learning, from reading, source analysis, research, and video watching options, as well as the chance to engage in extension activities. This lesson includes a self-marking quiz for students to demonstrate their learning.