Alabama Social Studies SS24.5.15

Social Studies5th Grade1970s to Today

The Standard

Trace the United States’ military involvement in international conflicts since 1980, including those following the September 11 attacks.

2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students put major U.S. military actions since 1980 on a timeline and find the countries on a map. They explain why U.S. forces became involved, including the response to the September 11 attacks.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can place Grenada, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and the Iraq War in order. They can explain that the Gulf War followed Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and that U.S. forces entered Afghanistan after 9/11. They know the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War were different conflicts.
Common Misconceptions: Students may combine the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War into one event. Some think Iraq carried out the September 11 attacks or that U.S. troops entered Afghanistan before the attacks.
How to Assess It: Give students cards labeled Grenada 1983, Gulf War 1991, Afghanistan 2001, and Iraq War 2003. Ask them to put the cards in order and write why U.S. forces entered Afghanistan.

Lesson moves

Have pairs place four conflict cards on a paper timeline, then mark each location on a world map.
Ask, “Why did U.S. forces enter Kuwait in 1991 and Afghanistan in 2001?” Have students answer using two event cards.
Play a card sort: students group conflict cards by before or after September 11, then arrange each group by date.
Read a recent headline about U.S. forces abroad, find the country on a map, and compare its location with the class timeline.

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