Activity Overview
When studying Truman's doctrine and foreign policies, students should be able to understand containment and what it entails. Using a spider map, students will define and explain the major principles of containment, a foreign policy that lay at the heart of Truman’s doctrine that intended to limit Soviet influence.
Through completing this activity, students will be able to connect ideas to not only what defines containment, but how containment was used to limit Soviet influence in America and around the globe. Suggested terms include base terms such as socialism, capitalism, democracy, communism, the “iron curtain”, and the Truman Doctrine. Teachers may pre-select any terms or ideas they would like students to research and connect to containment.
Extended Activity
Have students use containment as a central term to history and current events today. Events or ideas could center around the United States attempts to contain terrorism, radical Islam, or even other hostile nations like North Korea and Russia. Students should continue to connect base terms and ideas to how containment is seen today.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a spider map that outlines the major principles of Truman's containment policy.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In each of the title boxes, enter each term relating to Containment.
- In the descriptions, write a definition and summary of the term.
- Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
When studying Truman's doctrine and foreign policies, students should be able to understand containment and what it entails. Using a spider map, students will define and explain the major principles of containment, a foreign policy that lay at the heart of Truman’s doctrine that intended to limit Soviet influence.
Through completing this activity, students will be able to connect ideas to not only what defines containment, but how containment was used to limit Soviet influence in America and around the globe. Suggested terms include base terms such as socialism, capitalism, democracy, communism, the “iron curtain”, and the Truman Doctrine. Teachers may pre-select any terms or ideas they would like students to research and connect to containment.
Extended Activity
Have students use containment as a central term to history and current events today. Events or ideas could center around the United States attempts to contain terrorism, radical Islam, or even other hostile nations like North Korea and Russia. Students should continue to connect base terms and ideas to how containment is seen today.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a spider map that outlines the major principles of Truman's containment policy.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In each of the title boxes, enter each term relating to Containment.
- In the descriptions, write a definition and summary of the term.
- Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Truman Presidency: Cold War Policies
Engage students with a primary source analysis on Truman’s containment policies
Analyzing primary sources helps students connect historical events to real-world perspectives. Using letters, speeches, or government documents from the Truman era encourages critical thinking and deeper understanding of containment.
Select a relevant primary source excerpt for your grade level
Choose a short, age-appropriate excerpt such as Truman’s 1947 address to Congress or a newspaper editorial from the time. Ensure the language is accessible to your students and relates directly to containment.
Prepare guiding questions to prompt analysis and discussion
Create 3–5 open-ended questions like, “What concerns does President Truman express in this speech?” or “How does this document reflect the idea of containment?” These help students interpret and discuss the source.
Facilitate small group or whole-class analysis
Read the excerpt aloud or have students read in pairs. Guide discussion with your prepared questions, encouraging students to use evidence from the text. Support students as they connect the source to containment principles.
Wrap up with a quick reflection activity
Ask students to write or share one thing they learned about containment from the primary source. Reflection helps reinforce key concepts and allows students to articulate their understanding in their own words.
Frequently Asked Questions about Truman Presidency: Cold War Policies
What is Truman's containment policy in simple terms?
Truman's containment policy was a United States strategy during the Cold War aimed at stopping the spread of communism by limiting Soviet influence to countries where it already existed. This policy shaped U.S. foreign relations for decades.
How can I teach the concept of containment to high school students?
Use a spider map activity where students define key terms like communism, capitalism, the "iron curtain," and the Truman Doctrine. Have students connect each term to the idea of containment with examples and illustrations for better understanding.
What are some key terms to include in a lesson on the Truman Doctrine and containment?
Important terms are socialism, capitalism, democracy, communism, iron curtain, and the Truman Doctrine. These help students see how containment related to broader political and economic systems during the Cold War.
How does the idea of containment apply to current events?
Containment is still seen today in U.S. efforts to limit threats like terrorism, radical groups, or the influence of countries like North Korea and Russia. Teachers can encourage students to draw parallels between the Cold War and modern policies.
What is a spider map and how can it help students understand Cold War policies?
A spider map is a graphic organizer that helps students visually connect concepts, terms, and examples related to a central idea—like containment. It supports comprehension by organizing information in a clear, visual way.
More Storyboard That Activities
Presidency of Harry Truman
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
