Life in the 1950’s

When you click on the link on Schoology, you’ll find the first step in your 1950s Choose Your Own Adventure
Activity. Go through each slide, making your selections and seeing where your choices take you. [they will all
eventually take you to the same places, so don’t worry about missing out on something.]

When you’re done, complete these four questions about your experience, then explore topics that interest you
in the table below. Choose at least three, or as many as you like!

1. For your journey through the 1950s, did you go as a Guy or Doll? What did you notice about gender
roles in the 1950’s?
Doll, the woman had to become housewives while I men went to college or work

2. Do the 1950’s remind you of any earlier time periods that we’ve studied? How so? What types of things
seem to be repeating themselves?
Women still don’t have rights

3. Lots of new things were introduced in the 1950’s. What things did you see that are still influential
today? What things are not really a big deal anymore?
Cigarettes, tv ads, coca cola, and shelters are still around

4. Do you think you would have liked living in the 1950s? Give at least two reasons for your answer.
No because I wouldn’t have any rights

Which of these topics would you like to learn more about? Choose (at least) three and read more about
them. Of your selections, one must be related to Economics, one must be related to Culture, and one
must be related to the Cold War. Write 2-3 sentences explaining why you picked this topic, and what you
learned that interested you.

Levittowns & the Suburbs

The Baby Boom

Fallout Shelters

The Second Red Scare

(aka McCarthyism)

Julius and Ethel

Rosenberg
 TV!

Consumer Culture (buying

things & advertisements)

Teenager Culture in the

50’s and Teen Music

Social Rules of the 1950’s

(with some commentary
from people who lived
through it, and how the
social rules will change in
the 1960’s)

National Interstate
Highways Defense Act

The Green Book

Civil Rights (Brown v

Board & the Little Rock
Nine)

Sputnik & The Space

Race

The Election of 1960

Conclusion:
● Do you think you would have liked living in the 1950s? Give at least two reasons for your
answer.

No because I’d be a slave in my own home

● What do you think life will be like in the 1960s? How will it be different from the 1950s?