The turbulent 1960s saw the birth of a counterculture characterized by “hippies,” commune living, and a burgeoning political culture. Peace became the battle cry of this new generation as protests erupted over the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. The Women’s Movement altered traditional roles and expectations for both women and men. Rock and folk music reigned at festival gatherings such as Woodstock, in which messages of freedom and idealism prevailed.

You will be assigned topics that reflect the issues surrounding cultural change in 1960s America. Use what you have learned to create and present a poster depicting a notable cultural or social trend of that era. To prepare for your poster, you will research the ways in which these trends were reflected in music, changing relationships between women and men, and a growing counterculture.

Look at the photograph below. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Approximately 450,000 people attended the Woodstock Music Festival and Art Fair in August 1969.

• What does the photograph reveal about the audience at Woodstock?
• What might this tell you about the cultural and social mores of this generation?

Use the Daily Life through History articles listed on the right to research factors of cultural and social change in 1960s America. Focus on trends and changes in music, relationships, and the counterculture. Examine the Timeline. As you read, keep your assigned topic in mind. Remember that your presentation will need to include specific facts from your readings.

Use the Concept Map to organize your information. In the center oval, write the title of your topic, for example hippies. In the remaining ovals, write ideas and facts about your topic, such as Haight-Ashbury or idealism. Decide on the content, style, and design of your poster.

Create your poster. You should include written summaries and visual elements depicting distinct features or scenes related to your topic; you may choose to illustrate these scenes, or fashion a collage out of magazine cutouts. Remember to focus your poster on factual details about your topic. When prompted by your teacher, present your poster to the class.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you produce an eye-catching and creative poster?
• Did your poster include specific facts and details about your topic?
• Was your presentation engaging and informative?
• Did you demonstrate appropriate tone and conduct in your presentation?