Bay of Pigs Inference Activity – Free Character Match-Up & Kennedy/Castro Quote Task

This free resource is a short, ready-to-use activity introducing students to the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961). It helps them understand why events did not unfold as the CIA expected, using four short character viewpoints and a quick Kennedy/Castro fill-the-gaps task.

The activity works as a starter, plenary, homework task or as a companion to a full Bay of Pigs lesson. It builds students’ inference skills, contextual thinking and confidence in interpreting short historical quotations.

What the resource includes:

Character Match-Up Activity: Students match four quotes to four roles using clues in the text.

Teacher Answer Key: Clear explanations for each match to support modelling and feedback.

Kennedy and Castro Fill-the-Gaps Task: A short literacy activity contrasting US assumptions with Cuba’s rapid response.

Why this resource is useful:

Takes 10–12 minutes

No preparation needed

Suitable for any Cold War course or exam board

Helps students grasp early reasons why the invasion faltered

Works well as an introduction or follow-up to deeper Bay of Pigs teaching

Suitable for:

KS3 and KS4 History

The Cold War 1945–91 (all exam boards)

Starters, plenaries, revision tasks, homework or cover lessons