President Kennedy | JFK | Cold War Reading Activity | APUSH Review | 1960's

This engaging and interactive activity is the perfect introduction to the 1960s and the presidency of John F. Kennedy before students dive deeper into the major events of the era. Students will actively read, annotate, and color-code informational texts to strengthen comprehension and engagement while learning about key moments of Kennedy’s presidency and the changing culture of the 1960s. Appropriate for grades 8-11.

The lesson begins with students receiving a short reading packet along with a set of color-coding directions (multiple versions are included so you can choose the option that best fits your classroom needs). As students read, they will annotate the text and use color-coding strategies to identify important information, helping them stay focused and interact meaningfully with the content.

After completing the reading activity, students will apply their learning by completing a Kennedy Sensory Figure Activity as an extension or homework assignment. This creative follow-up encourages students to reflect on and synthesize what they learned about Kennedy and the decade.

This resource works great as:

• An introduction to the 1960s

• A beginning-of-unit activity

• Guided reading practice

• Independent or partner work

• Homework or extension work

Topics included:

• 1960’s Televised debates/election

• The New frontier

• Space Race Goals

• Peace Corps

• Green Berets

• Berlin Wall Construction

• Bay of Pigs invasion

• Cuban Missile Crisis

• JFK and Civil Rights

• Warren Court Reforms

• The assassination of JFK

Simply print and teach! Font size can also be adjusted to reduce page length if needed. Includes a traditional and Google version!