Do fences make good neighbors? Do walls offer a solution to political and social problems? A video that traces the building of and destruction of the wall that divided the West and East German sections of Berlin offers viewers a chance to reflect on these questions.

Concepts

the berlin wall, the cold war, post world war ii, the iron curtain, nazism, communism, the soviet union

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Flip the lesson asking pupils to view the video, complete the comprehension check, and research the provided links before returning for a whole class discussion
• Have groups research other walls built as protections or restraints (e.g. Hadrain's Wall, the Maginot Line, the Great Wall of China, etc.)
• Show the video of President Ronald Reagan's June 12, 1987 "Tear Down This Wall" speech 

Classroom Considerations

• The resource includes the video, a comprehension check, links to related resources, and a discussion question

Pros

• The video underscores the economic and political factors that lead to the construction of the wall

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.2 RH.11-12.2