The Cold War to the Present

From the Cold War to the present is the focus of the three year learning experience for high school teachers in the Rockwood and Parkway schools districts.  The learning experience begins with an overview lecture provided by the grant’s leading historian, Dr. John Chappel of Webster University.  The teachers will then study under author Grant Wiggins as they learn the Understanding by Design model for unit and lesson design.

During the summer of 2006 the teachers will travel throughout Missouri on the “Cold War in Missouri” road trip.  Teachers will then travel to presidential libraries working with scholars to select primary source documents to be included in classroom discussion.  Teachers will be working with experts in Document Based Questions to create the best teaching and learning materials from the materials and knowledge obtained from the experience.

Throughout the three year period the teachers will have the opportunity to listen and learn from scholars whom are experts in post World War II America.  The culminating event is a weekend of sharing and modeling lesson plans for all the high school teachers involved in the program.