Contextualization

The Cold War was an ideological dispute that occurred mainly in the 20th century, between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. This period, which began after the end of World War II (1945) and lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991), was marked by political and military tensions between the two superpowers, but without direct military conflict, hence the term 'cold'.

During the Cold War, the world was divided into two blocs: the Western, led by the United States, and the Eastern, led by the Soviet Union. Both competed for global supremacy through a space race, an arms race, espionage, propaganda, among other forms of indirect confrontation.

Importance of the Theme

The Cold War had a huge impact on world history, defining post-war geopolitics and shaping the modern world. The legacy of the Cold War can be found in almost every aspect of contemporary life: the division of the world during this period led to the creation of military alliances such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact, the formation of economic blocs, and the expansion of political ideologies.

Furthermore, the space race, part of the competition between the USA and the USSR, drove technology and science, leading to innovations such as the internet and satellites. Geopolitical tensions also generated conflicts in various parts of the world and influenced foreign policies to this day.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: 'Recreating the Cold War'

Project Objective

The activity aims to provide students with a deeper and more practical understanding of the events and dynamics of the Cold War, promoting cooperation among group members, historical research, and interpretation of events and decisions made during that period.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group will be assigned to represent a superpower (United States and Soviet Union) or their allies during the Cold War.

Each group will have one week to research and prepare a presentation of up to 20 minutes, describing the main events, strategies, and policies adopted by the country they represent during the Cold War.

This presentation should include a summary of the country's worldview and goals, as well as the main conflicts and events in which they were involved. For this, students should use various resources such as illustrations, videos, music, and graphics.

Necessary Materials

• Internet access for research.
• Computer or smartphone for presentation.
• Paper and pens for notes.

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Formation of groups and assignment of the country they will represent.
2. Research and data collection about the country represented and its role in the Cold War.
3. Development of a script for the presentation, including a detailed description of the events and strategies employed by the country.
4. Review of the script and presentation rehearsals.
5. Preparation of visual and audiovisual resources for the presentation.
6. Presentation to the class.
7. Writing the report on teamwork and research findings.

Project Deliverables

Students will deliver:

• An oral and audiovisual presentation on the role of their country in the Cold War.
• A written report detailing the research process, the main findings, the challenges encountered, and how they were overcome. The report should contain sections on Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

Students should strive to fit the aspects covered in the presentation and the research conducted into the context of the written report. For example, in the Introduction, the group should place the country in the Cold War and outline its main objectives during the conflict. In the Development, they should explain the research they conducted, the sources used, and discuss the main events and strategies executed by the country. The Conclusions should synthesize the group's learning from the research and the experience of working together on the project. And finally, in the Bibliography, the group should list all sources of information they used.

Each deliverable will be evaluated according to specific criteria that will be explained next.