1948Lesson Plan

Teacher Name __Mark Hoduski_____ Grade level(s)11_ Course ___Recent U.S. History______

Describe the classroom or homework activity to be performed(individual assignment, cooperative learning, cross curricular, technology based, using artifacts and/or primary sources, etc.) Students will study the Berlin Airlift and the role Gail Halverson played in shaping this famous Cold War event. The lesson will include a lecture on the Berlin Airlift, a video presentation by Gail Halvorsen, a critical thinking worksheet, a PowerPoint presentation of Mr. Halverson’s five keys to a successful life, and a summery class discussion.

Rationale (why are you doing this?) Our school motto is “Wisdom, Character, and Service.” Gail Halvorsen’s story provides a real life model of the school’s standards for students to emulate.

Required time frame: Two days

From where in this conference did you get the idea for this activity or assignment(speaker, document,photograph,activity, audio recording, other)?Gail Halvorsen’s presentation at the conference and a personal interview of Mr. Halverson inspired me to create this lesson plan.

Lesson objectives – the student will:

  • Students will understand the significance of the Berlin Airlift.
  • Students will appreciate the impact an individual can have on the course of history.
  • Students will identify how they can impact history through their individual decisions and their individual actions.

District,state, or national performance and knowledge standards/goals/skills met (be specific when referencing):

  • National Standard: “Explain the rationale, implementation, and effectiveness of the U.S. containment policy. [Evaluate the implementation of a decision](Historical Thinking Standard 5F) and Analyze cause-and-effect relationships (Historical Thinking Standard 3C)” The national standard on U.S. Containment policy is met by identifying how the Berlin Airlift was the first practical implementation of the Containment policy and by evaluating how both Truman’s and Halvorsen’s actions shaped America’s foreign policy outcomes. The lesson plan identifies why and how Truman made his decision to use an airlift to counter Soviet aggression in Berlin and how an individual pilot named Gail Halvorsen used individual initiative to improve the airlift’s overall effectiveness.

Secondary materials (book, article, video documentary, etc.) needed – cite title and other detailed information:

  • Teacher PowerPoint presentation on Berlin Airlift

Primary sources (document, photograph, artifact, diary or letter, audio or visual recording, etc.) needed – cite detailed information:

  • Video: Gail Halvorsenn’s presentation at the TrumanMuseum and Library during the 1948: A Year of Decisions Conference.
  • Gail Halvorsen interview July 18, 2008 by Mark Hoduski
  • Halvorsen, Gail. The Berlin Candy Bomber. (USA: Horizon Publisher and Distributer, 1997)
  • Halvorsen, Gail. Impression of a Berlin Airlift Pilot. (2007)

Technology required: DVD PowerPoint

Fully describe the activity or assignment in detail. What will both you and the students do?

Title: For Two Sticks of Gum…

  1. Background PowerPoint presentation on the Berlin Airlift
  2. Show video of Gail Halvorsen’s presentation at the Truman Library Conference
  3. Complete critical thinking worksheet
  1. Circle three words that best describe Mr. Halvorsen’s actions: Service, compassion, integrity, gratitude, innovation, patriotism, attitude, little, hope, risky, kindness. Explain your choices.
  2. Answer: How did Gail Halvorsen’s action affect the Cold War?
  3. Answer: How did Gail Halvorsen’s actions affect his personal life?
  4. Answer: Identify three to four principles that you believe are essential to living a successful life.
  1. Collect and discuss student critical thinking assignment.
  2. PowerPoint presentation of Gail Halvorsen interview detailing the five keys of a successful life – service before self, gratitude, integrity, attitude, and little decisions matter.
  3. Follow PowerPoint presentation with class discussion contrasting the student’s essentials for a successful life with Gail Halvorsen’s keys for a successful life.
  4. Conclude with student’s identifying their two sticks of gum. (Gail Halvorsen remarked that for two sticks of gum he helped change history and his own life for the better.) Each student will identify two small things they can do to make the world a better place.

Assessment: fully explain your assessment method in detail or create and attach your scoring guide:

  • Students will take a unit test to identify their understanding of the Berlin airlift.
  • Students will complete the critical thinking assignment to demonstrate the ability to analyze and evaluate historical events.
  • Students will participate in class discussion to demonstrate an ability to synthesize their ideas with their peers, the teacher, and Mr. Halvorsen.
  • Students will identify in writing two actions they will take (application) that reflect Gail Halvorsen’s “service before self” model.