This lesson asks the question 'Were the Mujahadeen ‘freedom fighters’ or ‘terrorists’? The lesson uses Cold War movies such as Rocky IV and Rambo III to show how the US framed the Mujahadeen. Student then investigate, was that accurate? (This lesson has a lot of content and could be split over two lessons). This lesson is useful as a stand-alone lesson on the Soviet-Afghan War, on propaganda, media, or as part of a greater Cold War scheme of work. Lesson begins with Cold War retrieval practice questions. Key words are explicitly taught with the focus of the lesson being put in the students’ minds. Students will then investigate the key question with an analysis of Rocky IV and Rambo III, making a judgment on how the Americans portrayed both the Mujahadeen and the Soviets. Students will then research the war itself, this can be done as a teacher-led activity, individually or as group work. Using the information the students have put together, they will make a reasoned judgment in an extended writing task. Some key words and phrases from the lesson: Cold War, proxy war, Mujahadeen, terrorist, freedom fighter, bias, propaganda, communism This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint with videos embedded.

This lesson focuses on China under Deng Xiaoping. Focusing on the economic changes Kaifang Gaige (Opening up and Reform), the Tiananmen Square Massacre (6/4) and finishes with a look at modern China. It is useful as a stand-alone lesson on China, as part of a greater Cold War scheme of work, or in conjunction with my other China lessons (where this forms the third part). This lesson can be taught in one or spread over two. Lesson begins with the students making predictions about how and why Shenzhen grew so much. Students then recap/get background information on the Cultural Revolution. Students will then investigate a quote by Deng Xiaoping and make a hypothesis on how he will run China. The policies of Opening Up and Reform are then discussed, with links to the USSR, and then the effects are analysed, numeracy task. Students then learn about the democracy movement, including the Tiananmen Square Massacre and its aftermath. Finally students look at modern China and understand the economic and soft-power China possesses today. Some key words and phrases from the lesson: Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao, Deng Xiaoping, economic, development, Opening Up, Reform, Kaifang, Gaige, Glasnost, Perestroika, Tiananmen Square Massacre, democracy, GDP, Huawei, Tiktok This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint as well as documents for printing, including an extension exercise if needed.

The aim of the lesson is for the students to understand what the Cultural Revolution was and its impact. It is useful as a stand-alone lesson on China, as part of a greater Cold War scheme of work, or in conjunction with my other China lessons (where this forms the second part). There is a lot of content in this lesson, and can be taught as two lessons allowing the teacher to go into greater depth and detail with the students. Lesson begins with a retrieval practice question on Stalin and Mao. Students then analyse a source and make a hypothesis about the Great Leap Forward. Students will then complete a video comprehension task on the effects of the Great Leap Forward, including the Great Famine. Students will analyse the personal impact of Chairman Mao and make judgements on his impact in China at the time. The main task is for students to analyse the Cultural Revolution. This can be done as a teacher-led task, or printed off with the students completing the investigation task individually or in groups. Students will analyse the following aspects of the Cultural Revolution and make judgements on their impact: The Red Guard, attacks on education, public shaming, destruction of history, aggression towards the USSR. Chinese writing. Students will be introduced to the simplification of written Chinese. Students will have time to look at and practice writing various words in the traditional script, then in the simplified script. The lesson will conclude with students making a Cultural Revolution era poster. Example posters and slogans (in English and Chinese) are provided. Some key words and phrases from the lesson: Stalin Great Leap Forward Great Famine Cultural Revolution Red Guard Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint as well as documents for printing.

The aim of the lesson is for the students to judge how much Chairman Mao Zedong changed China. It is useful as a stand-alone lesson on China, as part of a greater Cold War scheme of work, or in conjunction with my other China lessons (where this forms the first part). Lesson begins with a source analysis of the carving up of China. Then students’ knowledge of China is discussed with a Round Robin activity. Students will then learn about the background of Communism in China, with the Century of Humiliation (including colonisation, the Opium Wars and China in WWII) being analysed. The main task is looking at the problems the ‘New China’ faced and how Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party set about fixing them. This looks at economic growth in the First and Second Five Year Plans, analyses GDP growth and military threats to China, including the Korean War and US involvement in Vietnam. The lesson concludes with an extended writing activity with the students writing about the changes they have seen under the leadership of the CCP in a letter; allowing students to make their own assumptions and judgements on the class content. Some key words and phrases from the lesson: Century of Humiliation Opium War Ideology Economy Five Year Plan GDP Korean War Vietnam War This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint as well as documents for printing.