NATO and the Warsaw Pact
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why NATO and the Warsaw Pact were formed.
Key learning points
- The USSR and Germany were considered threats to Western Europe after WW2.
- NATO was founded in 1949 as a military alliance of Western countries.
- West Germany was allowed to join NATO in 1955.
- The USSR opposed West German entry into NATO.
- The Warsaw Pact was an alliance of Eastern European countries founded in 1955.
Keywords
Alliance - an agreement between countries or political parties to work together to achieve something
Controversial - something that causes a lot of disagreement or argument
Rearmament - the process of supplying yourself or others with new weapons, especially in order to become a strong military power again
Common misconception
NATO was established in response to the USSR setting up the Warsaw Pact.
The Warsaw Pact was a response to NATO's formation in April 1949 (which itself followed the Berlin Crisis and Soviet takeover of Czechoslovakia).
Teacher tip
Ask students whether the formation and expansion of NATO means that the West should receive most of the blame escalating tensions in the Cold War during the mid-20th century.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. Sputnik 1 was a Soviet .
Q2.Which country sent the first woman into space?
Q3.Who was the first man in space?
Q4.Which country won the 'Race to the Moon'?
Q5.Why did JFK plan to land a man on the Moon?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. An is an agreement between countries or political parties to work together to achieve something.
Q2.Which superpower was a member of the Warsaw Pact?
Q3.Write the missing word. The USA was a member of .
Q4.Why did France initially oppose West German membership of NATO?
Q5.Which of the following was a characteristic of most Warsaw Pact member states?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: NATO and the Warsaw Pact, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: NATO and the Warsaw Pact, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.