Grades: 7-8 or 9-12 | 60 minutes |30 students
Do your students have what it takes to avert a nuclear catastrophe? This classroom simulation places students in the role of CIA intelligence analysts in October 1962. By analyzing declassified primary documents and surveillance photos from U-2 spy planes, students advise President Kennedy of the "ground truth" at each stage of the Crisis. Can sources be trusted? The outcome is in their hands.
Grades: 7-8 or 9-12 | 50 minutes |30 students
Every day students are faced with different forms of propaganda. However, it is nothing new. Governments have used this type of covert action to influence events both at home and abroad. Can your students identify the tools and techniques used to create successful propaganda campaigns? By the end, students will think critically about the information they consume and understand how it could be designed to manipulate their thoughts and opinions.
Please note: One of the stories this workshop covers is Operation Denver, a Soviet active measures campaign to spread the idea that AIDS was a man-made virus created by the US in Pentagon laboratories. The workshop does not discuss how AIDS is transmitted.
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS: Following each workshop, SPY’s Learning Center will be cleaned, and materials will be sanitized. Masks will be mandatory for all guests, regardless of vaccination status.
WHEN: Monday – Friday between 9am – 5pm EST (Federal holidays excluded) during the 2021 - 2022 school year. Workshops booked outside these hours will incur an additional off-hours fee of $100+.
PARTICIPANTS: 5-30 students (and at least 1 teacher/supervising adult is mandatory). For virtual workshops, if your school is IN-PERSON or HYBRID, we can only connect with one physical classroom per workshop (see above for connection options). If more than one classroom would like to participate, you are more than welcome to book additional free workshops.
CREDIT CARD: A credit card must be added in order to hold your workshop. The card will not be charged unless you cancel less than 2 weeks before your visit and/or workshop or fail to show. Download a credit card authorization form here.
CANCELLATION FEE: If you need to cancel your visit and/or workshop, please let us know at least 2 weeks prior. If cancelled after that date or failure to show up, your school will be charged $150.00 and will not be able to participate in this program in the future.
