Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art -- The Secret to Freedom

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create a coded message in a quilt. In this art instructional activity students demonstrate the communication used by the Underground Railroad. Students work in a group to make a quilt with a code in it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Look at Virginians During Reconstruction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine slavery and Reconstruction in Virginia. In this Virginians during Reconstruction lesson, 4th graders research primary sources for the story of William Jasper and other slaves. Students hypothesize how rights became...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Claiming Common Ground? The Civil War and the Preservation of Claiming Common Ground? The Civil War and the Preservation of George Washington's Mount Vernon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore how people viewed George Washington in the 19th Century.  In this U.S. History lesson, students create a timeline of events during the Civil War, including government and court decisions.  Following...
Interactive
Curated OER

The Civil War 1850–1865

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the American Civil War. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War and Beyond

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders play a game.  In this Civil War lesson, 6th graders discuss the beginnings of the Civil War and define vocabulary words associated with the war such as abolitionist and Emancipation Proclamation.  Students play a...
Interactive
Curated OER

Reconstruction (1865–1877)

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history quiz instructional activity, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the Reconstruction Era. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hoosiers in the Civil War

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research soldiers in the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, 4th graders listen to the story Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco and identify the main events. They read facts about "Hoosiers in the Civil War" and create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Were the Political & Social Views of People During the Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the Civil War. In this US history lesson, 8th graders discuss the causes for fighting for the North and the South showing that there was no good side or evil side just people believing in what they were fighting for....
Worksheet
Curated OER

Civil War "Who Am I?" Worksheet

For Students 5th - 8th
In this American Civil War figures activity, students create 20 questions that they will ask to find out the identity of the mystery war figure they are assigned.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

West Virginia State Museum Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars explore historic West Virginia. In this US history instructional activity, students examine primary sources and political cartoons that depict the issues of statehood for West Virginia and the role that those played in the...
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 instructional activity on the Shaw Memorial, students engage in 3 activities, discussion, and art analysis to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This instructional...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Slave Auction Documents

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students compare the social and cultural characteristics of the North, the South, and the West during the antebellum period, including the lives of African Americans and social reform movements such as abolition and women’s rights.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Call and Response Singing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate call and response singing.  In this fine arts and U.S. history lesson, students listen to several call and response songs that were sung by African-American slaves during the period before the Civil War. ...
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 activity, 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Photojournalism: A Record of War

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students view photographs of the Civil War. For 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

Sectionalism

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine sectionalism. In this sectionalism lesson, students explore reasons sectionalism developed. Students realize the conflicts that led to the Civil War and how sectionalism affected citizens on the border of Kansas and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

5th Grade Social Studies

For Teachers 5th
In this social studies worksheet, 5th graders complete multiple choice questions about immigrants, World War II, the Civil War, prosperity, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1856-1865: Abolitionists and the Civil War

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this abolition lesson, students watch "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and discuss the philanthropic acts they witnessed in the film. Students also complete an activity that requires them to determine...
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 lesson, 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 like to be at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Homer's Civil War Veteran: Battlefield to Wheat Field

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

When Johnny Went Marching Off...

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore Civil War campaigns. In this Civil War instructional activity, 8th graders collaborate and conduct research to create presentations that focus on specific Union or Confederate generals and battles. Students...
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, students research the Civil War and find costumes, props and scenery appropriate to the time period. They become characters from the Civil War time...
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...