Final Lesson Plan Script

By Christopher Olsen
EDU 214 2020 Fall
Mr. Olsen: Hello Class, good morning!

Students: Good morning Mr. Olsen.

Mr. Olsen: Well today class after our World War 2 module,
we are now going to cover the Cold War. A “conflict” that
still affects us to this day.

Students: Why did you air quotes conflict.

Mr. Olsen: Well that is what I am going to try to teach you

within this lesson. Make sure you guys take notes on each
slide.
Mr. Olsen: So the Cold War was not really a war per se
but more like a period of time.

Students: Kind of like the time between the two World

Wars?

Mr. Olsen: Yes, although there is some major differences

now. For starters, the Cold war was America against
Soviet Russia. Additional, both the great powers had a
nuclear arsenal. Meaning any direct conflict with the the
two great powers means the end of the world. This is the
first time in history where the major players in the world
could destroy each other.
Students: That's great and all, but why?

Mr. Olsen: Well at a surface level they had two

differing ideologies, the Americans supporting
Capitalism and the Soviets supporting Communism.
But at a deeper level, they fought for influence and
control of other countries. Many countries align and
played off each power for their own gain. Egypt was a
prime example.

Students: And America and Russians were okay with

that?

Mr. Olsen: They would do anything to gain favor.

Mr Olsen: Another aspect that is also critical is the
nuclear perspective.

Students: The atomic bombs right? The things used

to defeat Japan?

Mr. Olsen: Correct! Now as mentioned early, both

powers have these weapons. Capable enough to
destroy the world. So really no pressure at all.

Students: Right… sure.

Mr Olsen: While I am being coy, the stress of trying to

negotiate peace is a lot harder when your whole world
can come crashing down!
Mr. Olsen: Ironically enough, the nukes saved more
lives just from them existing.

Students: Really? One of the most devastating

weapons to exist has saved lives? How?

Mr. Olsen: Well think about it, everytime there has

been two allies or victors of wars, we see them turn
their backs on each other. It's no different this time, but
with nukes on the table, the consequence of war could
kill everyone.

Students: Oh! So the bombs prevent an World War 3?

Mr. Olsen: Bingo!

Mr. Olsen: Before we continue, does anyone have any
questions?

*Silence*

Mr. Olsen: Now then, when you guys think of the Cold
War, does any event pop up to your mind?

Students: My Grandfather served in Vietnam as chef.

Students: I have played games set during the Cold

War, like Call of Duty.

Students: The movie Red Dawn is one of my favorites!

Mr. Olsen: Good! A lot of great responses from you
guys! Even culturally, the Cold War still impacts us.
And that's why must learn it. For this portion, I am
going to go over some of the important events during
the Cold War. We have to start right at the end of
World War 2. As you know, Germany is defeated and
is then split into two. Originally sectors, they are then
turned into West and East Germany, the west being
aligned with America and the the East being aligned
with the Russians. Then there is the city of Berlin in
the middle.
Mr Olsen: As you will notice, the Berlin is deep in
Soviet controlled territory. So for 3 years, the West
delivered supplies through roads and trains. But in
1948, the Soviets blocked the way from West to
Berlin. This was to starve the city and force them to
join the Soviets. So then the West had to bring out
supplies through airplanes and saved the city. A year
later, the Soviets gave up and stop blocking the city
from supplies. Eventually they built a wall the city,
named the Berlin Wall.
Students: Man, I feel like that was very petty.

Mr. Olsen: Haha! A real understatement. USA and

the Russians had a very hard time working together.
They absolutely hated each other. The second major
event was the Korean War. The North, who was
working with the Russians, and the South, who was
working the Americans. Although this marks a new
player in the Cold War scene - China.
Mr. Olsen: As we learned during World War 2 module,
China was going through a multi decade civil war with
warlords. But eventually the Communist won and
reunified China.

Students: What happened to you talking about

Korea?

Mr. Olsen: Well a big help to Korea was China during

this era. The Russians and Chinese vied for control
and tried to perform better than the other one. This
manifested in Korea and China sending over a million
“volunteers”.
Students: Volunteers? Really? How is that even a
Volunteer force?

Mr. Olsen: Well that's just what they called it, but it
forced a stalemate between the two sides. Eventually
they signed an armistice in 1953, ending hostilities.
Just so far, as you can see, the rivalry goes quite deep.
Mr. Olsen: The next major event is the Cuban Missile
Crisis. The nation of Cuba had recently become
Communist. Right at Americas footsteps. Even
worse, they Soviets were caught by the Americans
sending nukes over there. That put America in
immediate danger of being nuked. In the year of
1962, for 12 days, the world was the closest to ending.
This event still shakes people up. Imagine at the time,
the amount of fear and stress that builds up, even for
the average person. Luckily, the nukes were taken
away, and the Soviets and Americans came to an
agreement.
Students: Wow, that was dangerously close.

Mr Olsen: Once again, an understatement. They next

event we will tackle, many of you know, the Vietnam
War. Let us watch this video on Vietnam.
Mr. Olsen: That was Paint It Black, from the Rolling
Stones.

Students: I liked the video, but what does that have to

do with our topic?

Mr. Olsen: Well, the Vietnam War had a far reaching

impact on our society. Americans trust after this war
had greatly fallen. The North was with China
primarily, and the South was with the Americans.
Eventually, the war bogged down the Americans so
much, that the North united the whole country.
Students: Wow, the Cold War is sorta dark.

Mr Olsen: Well yes, but we are soon coming towards

the end. Of course in the following weeks, we will go
into much more depth and learn about the knitty gritty
as we go.

Students: Yeah… woo…

Mr. Olsen: Oh come on, it won’t be that bad!

Mr. Olsen: The end of the Cold War comes when the
Soviets invade Afghanistan. This war takes up a lot of
resources, and lasts from 1979 till 1989, two years
before their dissolution. The Berlin also falls in 1989,
signifying the start of the end. And just two years
later, the Soviets dissolve and break up into several
countries.
Mr. Olsen: That basically wraps up the Cold War unit.
As said previously, we will go into much more depth in
the following weeks to come. But for know I have
some work for you all.

Students: Wait really? Ugh.

Mr. Olsen: Oh do not worry, I won’t be that bad, you

guys had already been doing it this whole time.
Mr. Olsen: Today work should be already done, but I
will give some extra time if you missed some parts of
the presentation. As said in the start, taking notes of
the presentation. With those notes, I want to see clear
handwriting, well understood notes and additional,
your own thoughts on the matter. So let’s begin that
right away!
Mr. Olsen: Have a
Good Day Class!
Students: You Too!