The 1970s and the 1980s – Review and Assessment Historical Thinking Skills

Description

Assessing Critical Thinking in Social Studies!

This purchase includes two different versions of an assessment for the 4 lessons in my 1970s and 1980s unit and a review worksheet for the entire unit.  Those lessons are:

• Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society and the Vietnam War
• Protest Movements of the 1970s | Stations Activity
• The Watergate Scandal and Richard Nixon a Mini-Play or Classroom Skit
• The Presidencies of Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan

This test is tailored to match critical thinking and historical thinking skills. The content focuses on the 1970s and 1980s – domestic and foreign policy. I do standards-based grading, and I allow students to redo tests. Therefore, one of the tests is given as the original, and the second test is given as a “redo.”

These assessments do require the students to have some knowledge of historical skills. The skills are then referred to and reviewed on the review sheet. I’ve tried my best to meet the new standards required by NYS Standards for Social Studies.

I include a 5-point rubric with each of the lesson assessments. If you would like to grade these questions in a different way, you can simply remove the rubric and add in your own points or rubric instead.

There is an answer key provided for the review sheet and both versions of the exam.

This zip file includes a PDF version, a PowerPoint version, and a link to a Google Slides version for both the Review and the assessment. Both the PowerPoint and the Google Slides versions are fully EDITABLE.

This resource specifically addresses the following NYS standards:

8.9b – The civil rights movement prompted renewed efforts for equality by women and other groups.

8.9b.1 – Students will examine struggles for equality and factors that enabled or limited success on behalf of women, farm workers, Native Americans, the disabled, and the LGBT community.

8.9c – The Great Society programs of President Lyndon Johnson strengthened efforts aimed at reducing poverty and providing health care for the elderly, but the Vietnam War drained resources and divided society.

8.9c.1 – Students will explain the difference between Medicare and Medicaid

8.9c.2 – Students will examine the connection between the Vietnam War, especially the draft, and the growth of a counterculture and peace movement.

8.9d – Economic recession during the 1970s and concerns about the growth and size of the federal government encouraged fiscal conservatives to push for changes in regulation and policy.

8.9d.1 – Students will examine President Ronald Reagan’s and President George H. W. Bush’s cuts to social programs and taxes in an attempt to stimulate the economy.

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