U.S. National Institutes of Health

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Students learn about the U.S. rubella epidemic of 1964 and its impact on cultural expectations about the American family.

Educators are welcome to adapt these resources to their students' interests and desired learning outcomes.

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Impacts of the 1964 Rubella Epidemic

10–12
History & Social Studies; Health Education
Students learn about the 1964 rubella epidemic in the United States through the Rashes to Research online exhibitions. They closely examine three primary sources featured in the exhibition in exploring how the epidemic impacted different groups of people.
Text in a book

Rubella Mothers as Moral Pioneers

This module has four classes in which students explore how the 1964 rubella epidemic reshaped cultural expectations about the “ideal” American family. Each 50 to 90-minute class includes a short introduction, closely aligned primary and secondary sources, and discussion questions.
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