WebQuest

Cuban Missile Crisis

A WebQuest for 11th Grade US History

Karen McAleney
kmac1533@yahoo.com

Introduction

It is 1962 and the United States is deep in the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Recent surveillance of Cuba has discovered a supply of long range missiles directed at the United States. While the Cold War has previously been a series of tense weapon building, this may be the event that turns the Cold War hot.

The Task

You are John F. Kennedy in October 1962 and faced with the crisis in Cuba. You have just received word that the Soviets have stationed missiles in Cuba facing the United State. You know that the Soviet Union is using the missiles to blackmail the United States into giving up control in Berlin. Since the Soviets have refused to remove the missiles, you have a very important decision to make.

After you make your decision you will be producing a PowerPoint Presentation of your solution to the problem.

The Process

1. Students will use the vocabulary sheet to create a table in a Word document to create vocabulary flash cards.

2. In partners, practice quizzing each other on the relevant terms.

Next, you are to watch Kennedy’s Speech to the nation in regards to the actions taken to diffuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Use the link provided to explore the various options JFK had during the crisis. Play the game at least 3 times to discover the 3 different outcomes. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/10/game/
Next, you are to create table in an excel spreadsheet with two columns. One column will be the potential action and the second column will be the outcome of the action. You are to highlight the option JFK used in yellow and the option they would have chosen in green. The table needs a key.
Finally, you are to use the table and information gathered from the website to create a PowerPoint presentation that states and defends the action you would have taken if you were JFK.

Evaluation

You will be graded individually using the following rubric:

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Stated Objective or Performance	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.
Stated Objective or Performance	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.
Stated Objective or Performance	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.
Stated Objective or Performance	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.
Stated Objective or Performance	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance.

Conclusion

As you finish your project and present to the class, you will have a better understanding of the difficult situation Kennedy faced. Kennedy made a brave decision by letting the public know what his agenda was in this situation. If you were in charge, would you alert the public? What are some of the advantages or disadvantages of going on television?

Credits & References

www.americanrhetoric.com/images/jfkcuba2b.JPG

www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkcubanmissilecrisis.html

www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/10/game/

America Pathways to the Present

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page