Provide a metaview, lifting students into a wider view of the concept. Use another medium (not reading or writing) to connect students' personal knowing to the concept (i.e. visual arts, music, movement, metaphor, etc.) Involve learners in reflective production that blends the emotional and the cognitive.

Show “The Atomic Café”

Objective: Students will gather visual images of the effect the rising tension of the Cold War had on American society.

Activity: Show “The Atomic Café” or a combination of the following that highlight McCarthyism, civil defense, the development of nuclear weapons, and the space race.
The Atomic Café – thoroughly and ironically depicts the effects of the arms race and the fear of a communist attack.
Racing for the Moon America’s Glory Days in Space (ABC News)
Civil Defense: The War at Home (A&E)
Senator Joseph McCarthy (A&E)
Spy in the Sky (PBS – The American Experience)
The Manchurian Candidate – A classic film, if at times bazaar, which gives some real insight into the depth of American paranoia about communism.
After viewing the movie have students or student pairs make a collage representing images or ideas from the movie that they found funny, disturbing, interesting or memorable. When the collages are complete display them around the room and ask for volunteers to share the images and ideas on their collages.

Assessment: Student lists should contain things like mushroom clouds, bomb shelters, civil defense drills, etc…