Minute by Minute: The Role of Intelligence in the Cuban Missile Crisis

Heat up your Cold War lesson by participating in a case-based simulation.

Students become intelligence analysts at the CIA in 1962 examining declassified intelligence documents and U-2 photographs at various stages of the crisis. In this social studies standards-based lesson, students are challenged to make decisions and recommendations based on primary documents and photos. The outcome of the crisis is in their hands.

Will their analysis help to avoid nuclear catastrophe?

Key Concepts and Skills:

• History: Cold War/Cuban Missile Crisis
• Government: how intelligence is interpreted and informs policy decisions
• Interpreting primary (declassified) documents
• Critical thinking and decision-making skills

Critical Intel

Grades: 7 - 12

60 Minutes