Last updated: March 11, 2022
Lesson Plan
Morale Art of the Cold War Era
- Grade Level:
- High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 11-12.RH.1, 11-12.RH.5, 11-12.WHST.7, 11-12.WHST.9
- State Standards:
- C3 Framework Standards: D1.1.9-12, D1.4.9-12, D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.11.9-12, D3.1.9-12, D4.6.9-12
Common Core Standards: RH.11-12.1, RH.11-12.5, WHIST.11-12.7, WHIST.11-12.9 - Additional Standards:
- C3 Framework Standards: D1.1.9-12, D1.4.9-12, D2.His.1.9-12, D2.His.11.9-12, D3.1.9-12, D4.6.9-12
Common Core Standards: RH.11-12.1, RH.11-12.5, WHIST.11-12.7, WHIST.11-12.9 - Thinking Skills:
- Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
Students will study morale art of Cold War missile sites in order to answer these questions: How can art increase the moral of the airmen and women who worked at Minuteman Missile sites? What was the overall theme or message of the Cold War morale art?
Objective
Students will study morale art of Cold War missile sites in order to answer these questions: How can art increase the moral of the airmen and women who worked at Minuteman Missile sites? What was the overall theme or message of the Cold War morale art?
Background
Background
Folk art is the art of the everyday. It is rooted in traditions that came from community and culture. One form of folk art is the art created by members of the military known as morale art. This art allowed airmen to express their creativity in a manner outside the uniformity of the military and as a kind of psychological release from the stresses of the Cold War.
Preparation
Preparation
1. Print off and laminate (if possible) examples of morale art.2. Print off the Morale Art Analysis Worksheet.3. Gather materials for students to use when creating their own morale art. Examples could include: butcher paper, construction paper, poster board, colored pencils, markers, etc.
Materials
Powerpoint of pictures from different missile sites with blast door art and other murals.
Download Morale Art of the Cold War Era Art Examples
Has a rubric to guide students through the process of analyzing the pictures of the morale art, as well as instructions for creating their own.
Download Morale Art of the Cold War Analysis Sheet
Description of the daily life and routine of the missileers.
Download Silent Soldiers Reading
Lesson Hook/Preview
Lesson Hook/Preview
1. Have students read Silent Soldiers: Missileer Duty and answer the questions at the end of the reading. Discuss responses as a class.2. Ask the class to think of three words that describe the role of the missile combat crew. Solicit responses from the class and write them on the board.3. The word STRESS should be one of the words, if not add it to the list on the board.4. Discuss the stressfulness of the mission and ways the crew could have relieved some of the stress.5. Inform them that one way was the creation of Morale Art.6. Explain to the students that they will be analyzing different examples of morale art created by missileers.
Procedure
Procedure
1. Place the students into groups. Give each group one example of Moral Art and enough analysis worksheets for each student in the group.2. Each group should analyze a different example of Morale Art.3. Then as a group, they will complete the analysis worksheet together. Each student will complete his or her own worksheet.4. Each student group will share their findings with the whole class. Use the PowerPoint with the examples of Morale Art to project the example as the group shares with the class.5. After the class discussion, each student will design a piece of morale art about an event that is taking place today. Each piece of art should be in color and contain objects, people/characters, words or phrases to bring attention to their event. Use a separate piece of paper to create the morale art. A rubric has been included to assist in grading the assignment.
Assessment Materials
Morale Art CreationDesign a piece of morale art about an event that is taking place today. Each piece of art should be in color and contain objects, people/characters, words or phrases to bring attention to your event.
DIRECTIONS: Design a piece of morale art about an event that is taking place today. Each piece of art should be in color and contain objects, people/characters, words or phrases to bring attention to your event. Please refer to the Rubric below when completing the assignment.
Directions and rubric for students to create their own morale art piece
Rubric/Answer Key
Morale Art Creation
DIRECTIONS: Design a piece of morale art about an event that is taking place today. Each piece of art should be in color and contain objects, people/characters, words or phrases to bring attention to your event. Please refer to the Rubric below when completing the assignment.1 = Weak 2 = Moderately Weak 3 = Average 4 = Moderately Strong 5 = Strong
1. The morale art contains appropriate objects, people/characters, words/phrases.1 2 3 4 5
2. The message of the morale art is clear and appropriate to the topic.1 2 3 4 5
3. The message/theme of the morale art is clear and easy to understand.1 2 3 4 5
4. The morale art is clean and neat, and the information is well organized.1 2 3 4 5
5. The political cartoon is colorful and creative.1 2 3 4 5
6. The spelling, punctuation, and grammar of any text on the morale art are accurate.1 2 3 4 5
7. The artwork is appropriate and carefully executed.1 2 3 4 5
8. The morale art demonstrates understanding of its topic and related concepts.1 2 3 4 5
9. The morale art fulfills the requirements of the assignment.1 2 3 4 5
10. Overall, the final result represents the student’s full potential.1 2 3 4 5
Enrichment Activities
1. The same activity could be done with Nose Art from World War II or other campaigns.
2. Have the students interview a former Missileer.