The 13 Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can account for the key events and decisions made during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Key learning points
- The Cuban Missile Crisis began on 14th October 1962 when the USA discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba.
- ExComm helped President Kennedy to make decisions during the crisis.
- The USA set up a blockade or 'quarantine zone' around Cuba.
- The risk of war was considered high by both the USA and USSR during the crisis.
- The crisis was resolved as both the USA and USSR agreed to make compromises.
Keywords
Blockade - a situation in which a government or soldiers stop goods or people from entering or leaving a place
Compromise - an agreement to accept something which is not exactly what you want
Common misconception
Only the USSR made compromises during the crisis.
Both superpowers agreed to compromises in order to avoid war and resolve the crisis. Soviet missiles were withdrawn from Cuba whilst the US promised not to invade Cuba and to withdraw its own missiles from Turkey.
Teacher tip
Provide students with the options Kennedy had for resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis and get them to debate which was best. Students could be asked to 'vote with their feet' and justify their choice before Kennedy's decision is revealed.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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. If you someone, you make them less likely to do something.
Q2.What type of American planes detected Soviet missiles in Cuba in 1962?
Q3.Which country was allied to Cuba in 1962?
Q4.Which country had Jupiter missiles based in Turkey (Turkiye)?
Q5.Which statement is most accurate?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing keyword. A is a situation in which a government or soldiers stop goods or people from entering or leaving a place.
Q2.Who was President of the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q3.What was the shortened name of the group of advisors who helped JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Q4.What did JFK prefer to call the American blockade of Cuba?
Q5.At the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis, what American response were hawks in JFK's group of advisors most likely to recommend?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The 13 Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The 13 Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, 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.