Watergate Scandal Timeline

The Watergate Scandal Timeline and Nixon's Resignation

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Activity Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Rubric

Activity Overview

While the Watergate Scandal was shocking, it didn't come from nothing. It's helpful for students to understand the background of the scandal and how it ended in the resignation of President Nixon. To do this, they can create a timeline that highlights major events, stemming from the break-in of the Democratic National Convention headquarters, to Nixon’s eventual resignation as president. By putting it all into a visual timeline, students will have a better understanding of how it fits in with the greater timeline of Nixon's political career and be able to easily understand the sequence of events.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options, and update the instructions accordingly.

Extended Activity

Have students create a timeline of Nixon as an ex-president, beginning with his resignation. Students should highlight the major events of how Nixon responded to and dealt with the scandal and also give insight to how he lived the remainder of his life until his death in 1994. Suggested major events should include his Frost interview, as well as his continued public service. In addition to this, students should highlight how the public viewed him, and how his role as president was interpreted post-Watergate.

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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 timeline detailing the events that were a part of and led up to the Watergate Scandal and Nixon's resignation.

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify important events and type them into the titles of each cell.
Write a summary of each in the description box.
Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Save and exit when you're done.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Timelines

Copy Activity*

Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Timeline

Create a timeline of important events and people, and explain their significance. Make sure the dates are correct, and the Photos for Class pictures are historically accurate or significant.

	Proficient 33 Points	Emerging 25 Points	Beginning 17 Points
Events and Dates	The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct.	Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct.	Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect.
Explanations/Descriptions	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events.	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events.	There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing.
English Conventions	There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.

Copy Activity*

Activity Overview

While the Watergate Scandal was shocking, it didn't come from nothing. It's helpful for students to understand the background of the scandal and how it ended in the resignation of President Nixon. To do this, they can create a timeline that highlights major events, stemming from the break-in of the Democratic National Convention headquarters, to Nixon’s eventual resignation as president. By putting it all into a visual timeline, students will have a better understanding of how it fits in with the greater timeline of Nixon's political career and be able to easily understand the sequence of events.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options, and update the instructions accordingly.

Extended Activity

Have students create a timeline of Nixon as an ex-president, beginning with his resignation. Students should highlight the major events of how Nixon responded to and dealt with the scandal and also give insight to how he lived the remainder of his life until his death in 1994. Suggested major events should include his Frost interview, as well as his continued public service. In addition to this, students should highlight how the public viewed him, and how his role as president was interpreted post-Watergate.

Copy Activity*

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 timeline detailing the events that were a part of and led up to the Watergate Scandal and Nixon's resignation.

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify important events and type them into the titles of each cell.
Write a summary of each in the description box.
Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Save and exit when you're done.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Timelines

Copy Activity*

Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Timeline

Create a timeline of important events and people, and explain their significance. Make sure the dates are correct, and the Photos for Class pictures are historically accurate or significant.

	Proficient 33 Points	Emerging 25 Points	Beginning 17 Points
Events and Dates	The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct.	Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct.	Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect.
Explanations/Descriptions	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events.	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events.	There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing.
English Conventions	There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.