Objectives (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Understand the Key Role of Dwight D. Eisenhower in American History

   • Students will learn about the life and accomplishments of Dwight D. Eisenhower, focusing on his role as the 34th President of the United States and his significant contributions to American history.

2. Analyze Eisenhower's Presidential Decisions and Their Impact

   • Students will study and discuss the major decisions made by President Eisenhower during his tenure and assess their impact on the nation and the world.

3. Appreciate the Leadership Skills of Eisenhower

   • Students will analyze Eisenhower's leadership style and its effectiveness in dealing with domestic and international issues, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for his role in American history.

Secondary Objectives:

• Develop Critical Thinking Skills

  • Through the study of Eisenhower's life and presidency, students will enhance their critical thinking skills by analyzing and evaluating historical events and their impact.

• Improve Research and Presentation Skills

  • As part of the flipped classroom methodology, students will be required to research and present their findings on specific aspects of Dwight D. Eisenhower's life and presidency. This will help them to improve their research and presentation skills, which are essential in academic and professional settings.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Recap of Necessary Content

   • The teacher will begin by reminding students of the previous lessons on the post-World War II era, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement. This will provide the necessary context for understanding Eisenhower's presidency and the challenges he faced during this period. (2 - 3 minutes)

2. Problem Situations

   • The teacher will then present two hypothetical scenarios to the students:
     1. "Imagine you are the President of the United States during the height of the Cold War. How would you handle the political tensions, the nuclear threat, and the ongoing struggle for civil rights?"
     2. "You are a military general tasked with planning and executing one of the largest amphibious invasions in history (D-Day). What strategies would you employ, and what factors would you consider to ensure success?"
   • These situations will serve as a starting point for understanding the complexity of Eisenhower's presidency and the leadership skills required in such circumstances. (4 - 5 minutes)

3. Real-World Contextualization

   • To emphasize the importance of studying Eisenhower, the teacher will discuss how his decisions and leadership style continue to influence the nation's foreign and domestic policies. The teacher will also mention that many of the challenges Eisenhower faced, such as the nuclear threat and the struggle for civil rights, are still relevant today. (2 - 3 minutes)

4. Engaging Introduction

   • To grab the students' attention, the teacher will share two intriguing facts about Eisenhower:
     1. "Did you know that before becoming President, Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War II and played a key role in the planning and execution of the D-Day invasion?"
     2. "Eisenhower was the first President to use a televised press conference. He found this medium an effective way to reach millions of Americans at once and to communicate his policies and decisions."
   • These facts will pique the students' curiosity and provide a starting point for further exploration of Eisenhower's life and presidency. (2 - 3 minutes)

Development

Pre-Class Activities (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Reading Assignment

   • Students will be provided with a short, easy-to-read text about Dwight D. Eisenhower's life and presidency. The text will cover his early life, his military career, his role as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War II, the planning and execution of the D-Day invasion, his presidency, and his major decisions and policies. The text will also include information about Eisenhower's leadership style and his contributions to American history.
   • After reading, students will note down any points or questions they found interesting for the class discussion.

2. Video Documentary

   • Students will watch a curated video documentary about Dwight D. Eisenhower. The documentary will cover the same aspects as the reading assignment but with the added bonus of visuals and interviews.
   • While watching, students will jot down important dates, events, and any other details they find engaging.

3. Research Task

   • Students will be tasked with researching and finding at least two additional facts about Dwight D. Eisenhower that they find interesting or surprising. These facts can be about any aspect of Eisenhower's life or presidency.
   • Students will record these facts along with their sources for future reference.

In-Class Activities (25 - 30 minutes)

1. Activity 1: "Eisenhower's Dilemma" Role Play Game

   • The class will be divided into groups of 5. Each group will receive a case scenario card that outlines a key decision or dilemma faced by Eisenhower during his presidency. These scenarios could include the dilemma of whether to drop the atomic bomb, how to handle the escalating Cold War, or how to respond to the Civil Rights Movement.
   • Each group will discuss the scenario and come up with a decision or action plan, considering the facts, historical context, and possible consequences. They will also identify which of Eisenhower's leadership skills they believe were most relevant to the scenario.
   • After each group has had time to prepare, a representative from each group will present their scenario and their proposed solution to the class. This will stimulate a lively discussion about the different decisions, strategies, and leadership styles employed by Eisenhower.

2. Activity 2: "Eisenhower's Timeline" Collaborative Poster

   • Each group will receive a set of key events, decisions, and policies from Eisenhower's life and presidency. This could include the D-Day invasion, the Suez Crisis, the Cold War policies of Brinkmanship and the New Look, his handling of the Civil Rights Movement, and his farewell address's warning about the Military-Industrial Complex.
   • The groups will work together to create a timeline poster, arranging the events in the correct chronological order. They will also briefly describe each event and its significance.
   • After completing the timelines, each group will present their posters to the class, explaining their choices and the connections between the different events. This will facilitate a deeper understanding of the chronology of Eisenhower's life and presidency.

3. Activity 3: "Eisenhower's Legacy" Classroom Debate

   • The class will be divided into two teams: one in favor of Eisenhower's presidency and one against. Each team will be given time to prepare their arguments based on the facts they've learned about Eisenhower's life and presidency.
   • After the preparation time, the debate will commence. Each team will take turns presenting their arguments and counterarguments. The teacher will act as a moderator, ensuring that the debate remains respectful and on topic.
   • The debate will be followed by a class discussion where students will reflect on the debate and consider different perspectives. This will help the students understand the complexity of Eisenhower's legacy and the various ways his presidency can be interpreted.

Feedback (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Group Discussions (5 - 7 minutes)

   • The teacher will facilitate a group discussion where each group will share the conclusions of their activities. This includes the decisions they made in the role-play game, the timeline they created, and the arguments they presented in the debate.
   • Each group will have up to 3 minutes to present their findings. This will be followed by a 2-minute Q&A session where other students can ask clarifying questions or provide their insights.
   • The teacher will use this opportunity to connect the students' findings with the theoretical aspects of the lesson, reinforcing the key points about Eisenhower's life, presidency, and legacy.

2. Assessment of Learning (3 - 5 minutes)

   • The teacher will then assess the learning outcomes based on the students' participation and the quality of their group work. The teacher will highlight the key learning points, emphasizing Eisenhower's role in American history, his major decisions and policies, and his leadership style.
   • The teacher will also assess the students' ability to analyze historical events and their impact, their understanding of the complexity of Eisenhower's presidency, and their appreciation of his legacy.
   • To ensure a comprehensive assessment, the teacher will consider the students' performance in the role-play game, the accuracy and coherence of their timeline, the quality of their debate arguments, and their active participation in the group discussions.

3. Reflection (2 - 3 minutes)

   • Finally, the teacher will ask the students to take a moment and reflect on what they have learned. The teacher will pose the following questions for the students to consider:
     1. "What was the most important concept you learned today about Dwight D. Eisenhower?"
     2. "Which aspect of Eisenhower's life or presidency do you find most intriguing or inspiring?"
     3. "How do you think Eisenhower's leadership style and decisions compare to those of other US presidents?"
   • The students will be encouraged to share their reflections, promoting a deeper understanding of the lesson's content and its relevance to their lives and the world around them.

4. Closing Remarks (1 minute)

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher will summarize the key points of the lesson and thank the students for their active participation and hard work. The teacher will also remind the students of the upcoming assignments or tasks related to the lesson, such as a follow-up research project or a reflection essay on Eisenhower's leadership style.
   • The teacher will also encourage the students to continue exploring the life and presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower in their own time, noting that there is always more to learn and discover about any historical figure.