Crisis in Berlin 1948: decision-making activity

Put your students in the shoes of Cold War superpowers with this engaging decision-making activity exploring the Berlin Blockade of 1948.

What's included

• Role-play scenarios that place students as USA or USSR decision-makers facing the Berlin crisis
• Keyword matching activities, mapping exercises and brinkmanship research tasks to build understanding
• Answer key and links to GCSE-style exam questions for assessment

This resource is available as a free PDF download or as an editable version for subscribers.

How to use this resource

Divide your class into two groups representing the USA and USSR, then guide them through the structured activities to explore the decisions and consequences of the Berlin Blockade. The keyword matching task builds essential vocabulary, whilst the mapping exercise helps students visualise the geopolitical situation. The brinkmanship research deepens their understanding of how this crisis became a pivotal turning point in the Cold War. Use the included GCSE-style question prompts to consolidate learning and assess students' ability to analyse historical significance.