GCSE History Edexcel Cold War and S.Power Relations: Gorbachev's policies L.17

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This lesson covers the actions and policies of Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985-1991. The lesson includes all the information needed in a helpful fact sheet to compliment your other resources.
RECAP: Missing terms quiz about the actions of President Reagan from lesson 16.
STARTER: A discussion question about the forms of technology available in the West by the 1980s and how this might show the difference between capitalism and communism.
STARTER: A cartoon for the students to discuss showing Mikhail Gorbachev and the ‘breaking up’ of the Soviet Union. Students have to interpret the cartoon as a way into the lesson.
STARTER: 3 sources. Students should read each one and ‘infer’ what they can about the actions of Gorbachev.
BACKGROUND: Various, clear slides to outline the events and actions taken by Gorbachev in this time before the students read further.
TASK: Students are asked to complete a fact file about Gorbachev. Students are given an outline of suggested headings for this fact file from basic facts to a description of each of his actions. They will then be prompted to examine his importance and such turning points in the Cold War.
PLENARY: Key term ‘Who/what am I?’
FACT SHEET: All of the information needed for the students on one sheet.