Teaching Guide

This activity is a multimedia, interdisciplinary, interactive summary of events in the 1960's in science, society, politics and culture. It will provide your students with a stimulating self-guided review of the era. It would be most effective after a full study of the major historical figures and events of the 1960's – Kennedy, King, Malcolm X, Civil Rights, Cold War, Vietnam War, space race, abstract art, etc.

You may choose to have students work individually or in pairs. Students will examine the timeline and follow links for further information based on their own interests. This may be done in one or two class periods. For six years in the decade, there is a self-correcting question that must be answered to gather clues for the final question. When the final question has been answered correctly students will gain access to the project assignment.

The project asks students to create a poster showing how the events of the 1960's have shaped their lives today. A list of useful websites is also included. It will be easiest if they pick a "then and now" approach based on their own interests. For instance, a student might identify video games as favorite activity and would need to consider what happened in the 1960's that allows her to play video games now (the invention of Spacewar! in 1962, the invention of the computer mouse in 1964, etc.).

To access the timeline, you need computers with Internet connection as well as movie and sound capabilities. Web browsers will require the free Quicktime and RealPlayer plug-ins and JavaScript must be enabled. Students may wish to take notes while examining the timeline. Materials for the project (posterboard, magazines, markers, glue, etc.) can be provided.

Go to the LOOK WHAT'S GOING DOWN || A Timeline of the 1960's.