Are you a social studies teacher looking for engaging classroom resources on the Cold War? Learn what other teachers have said about Retro Report’s popular Cold War videos.

How a Cold War Airlift Saved Berlin With Food, Medicine and Chocolate

A Soviet blockade around Berlin cut the city off from the West. But in 1948, U.S. and British pilots began to fly food, fuel and medicine to the Allied sectors. This video covers the Berlin airlift, an effort that laid a foundation for international partnerships that is still in place today.

“The video allows for a robust discussion of the changes World War II brings about in terms of foreign policy. Additionally, the introduction of NATO in the video allows students to have historical context around modern debates of U.S. involvement in NATO. Kids discussed at length the pros and cons of NATO.” – Christopher Wiegman, Oregon School District, Oregon, Wis.

Dictators and Civil Wars: The Cold War in Latin America

By the 1950s, Cold War tensions spread to Latin America and revolutions, coups and uprisings became commonplace. Through this video and its resources, students will learn how the United States adopted a policy of containment that was driven by fear of the rise of communism, and how it intervened in the politics of countries across the globe, including many in Latin America.

“I teach a large population of students from Latin America, and this video helped create an incredible dialogue about the role of the U.S. in Latin America. I embedded the video with questions, and more students participated in the discussion afterward because it spoke directly to their country of origin or that of their parents. They saw representation.” –Manjot Khehra, Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

“It helped shape our look into how United States intervention brought about issues in Latin America today. It was a good way of getting students interested in what we were going to be talking about. We had a richer discussion in which students were generally interested in the topic. This then led to enhanced work.” – Jason Milke, Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Waverly, Iowa

How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon

This video explores the competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union in science and engineering, beginning in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite, and culminating in 1969 with the U.S. sending the first humans to walk on the moon in the Apollo 11 mission.

“It did a thorough job of giving my students information about how the U.S. space program grew out of the Cold War and the arms race. Students were eager to discuss and wanted to do research to learn more about the events.” – Michelle Nystel, Turkey Valley Community School, Jackson Junction, Iowa

“Students thought it was very interesting, the connection between the Cold War and the space race. It made them think about the conflict in a different manner.” – Lisa Smith, Carroll High School, Southlake, Texas

Do you want to explore more of Retro Report’s resources? Check out more Cold War videos, lesson plans and student activities in our education library today.

ISADORA VAREJÃO is Retro Report’s Engagement Producer.
CAROLINE WATKINS is Retro Report’s Audience Engagement Manager. 

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