Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Reconstruction in South Carolina

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Reconstruction activity, 8th graders research the role of Reconstruction in South Carolina by simulating the environment of East Bay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners use art and images analyze the Civil War. In this lesson on the Shaw Memorial, students engage in 3 activities, discussion, and art analysis to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This lesson includes web resources,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Photographs: The Mathew Brady Bunch

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students examine the photographs of Mathew Brady. In this Civil War lesson, students analyse primary source photographs from the Civil War. Students will be able to describe specific events and what life might be like during the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Photojournalism: A Record of War

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners view photographs of the Civil War. In this photojournalism lesson, students look at Mathew Brady's photographs of the Civil War. They discover the evolution of photographic equipment and analyze Civil War photographs. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students navigate the Scholastic Underground Railroad site and listen to journey of the Underground railroad.  In this Underground Railroad lesson, students use maps and compare and contrast the differences between the North and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Slang

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students inquire about slang language used during the Civil War. In this writing instructional activity, students recieve a handout of slang words used by soldiers. Students view pictures of Civil War to get a visual idea of what it was...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Homer's Civil War Veteran: Battlefield to Wheat Field

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine Civil War-themed artwork. In this visual arts lesson, students compare and contrast paintings by Winslow Homer and Timothy O'Sullivan. Students analyze the symbolism in the artwork representing Civil War...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Johnny Went Marching Off...

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore Civil War campaigns. In this Civil War lesson, 8th graders collaborate and conduct research to create presentations that focus on specific Union or Confederate generals and battles. Students take on the roles...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Play Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students act out the Civil War through reader's theater. In this performing arts lesson plan, students research the Civil War and find costumes, props and scenery appropriate to the time period. They become characters from the Civil War...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black American Soldiers in the Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the actions needed to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.  In this US History lesson, 8th graders analyze documents pertinent to the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Students examine the process of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Reader's Theater Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students participate in a reader's theater about the Civil War. In this performing arts instructional activity, students review the Civil War through a reader's theater. They practice reading their parts to work on expression and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interpreting History With Artifacts: Mid to Late 1800s

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study history though the exploration of artifacts. For this Civil War lesson, 4th graders examine artifacts such as sweet grass basket, spinning top, photos on tin, cast iron kettle, china"bone plate," bonnet, wooden...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technologies of the Civil War

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover new and interesting technologies of the Civil War. In this Civil War portfolio of lessons, 5th graders analyze primary resources, develop new vocabulary, investigate websites, and create a time line of new...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War: Learning from Our Peers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the Civil War as taught by their peers. For this Civil War lesson, 5th graders create their own lesson plans to teach the class about the Civil War. The students are monitored by the teacher but are given lectures...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Quilting Through the Civil War and Underground Railroad

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students design a quilt. For this Civil War and Underground Railroad lesson, students discuss the Civil War and Underground Railroad. Students look at quilts from the Civil War and discover how they were used to help slaves escape....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Scavenger Hunts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the impact of historical events. For this historical scavenger hunt lesson, students examine photographs of a local monument that zoom in on details. Students record their impressions regarding the photos. Students...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Reconstruction: A Time of Turbulence

For Teachers 5th
Students utilize knowledge and understandings of the Civil War to look at the reconstructive era that followed. In this reconstructive era lesson, Students gain understanding of the definition of reconstruction by building, taking apart...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Aftermath of Reconstruction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Reconstruction Era. In this American history activity, students explore the condition of the United States following the Civil War as they read statistical data. Students analyze the Reconstruction policies to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Freedom to Fight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the African American troop experiences in the Civil War. In this American history lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding the experiences and contributions of African American soldiers who...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking the Chains: Rising Out of Circumstances

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Study history through photographs. In this visual arts and history activity, students learn to analyze photographs to discover details about life during the Civil War era. Students write journal entries as if they are the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Events of the Civil War

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research the Civil War through the use of primary documents. In this historical events of the Civil War instructional activity, 5th graders write about the information gotten from the primary document. Students answer...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Speeches on the Not-So-Big Screen

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine American speeches. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students explore the emotional context of historical periods as they analyze "The Gettysburg Address" and "I Will Fight No More Forever" speeches.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Post-Civil War American History

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine significant events in Post-Civil War America. In this Post-Civil War lesson, 5th graders investigate the important events after the war in 19th century America. They read primary source documents about six topics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Detectives

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate aspects of the Civil War. In this history activity, 5th graders complete several tasks involving the economy, culture, and geography of the Civil War. First, students are divided into groups to study primary...