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

Civil War: A Terrible Swift Sword

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the Civil War. In this American History instructional activity, students use guiding questions and primary resources to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This instructional activity actually includes 3...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1864-1865: Bringing the War to an End

For Teachers 9th - 12th
An interesting lesson plan explains the last battles of the war and the terms of the Articles of Surrender. It also analyzes the election of 1864 with copies of the Baltimore and Chicago platforms. To conclude the instructional activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prairie Voices: Iowa and the Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students study how the Civil War affected Iowa natives. In this Iowa history lesson, students read the provided article on Iowa and its Civil War experiences. Students analyze the article to determine how the war affected civilians and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Bingo

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students answer Civil War questions. In this Civil War United States history lesson, students copy Civil War vocabulary and phrases onto squares on a Bingo card. Students cover a Bingo square in response to each question asked by the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War--The Battle of Corydon

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the Battle of Corydon. In this American Civil War lesson plan, 8th graders discover details about the Battle of Corydon and the leaders of the battle. Students also identify how the Corydon commemorates the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gettysburg: The Civil War's Costliest Battle

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. In this Gettysburg lesson, students analyze journals and letters written by the Gettysburg soldiers. Students define Civil War soldier vocabulary words. Students compare and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Letter

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils put themselves in the shoes of American Civil War soldiers. In this Civil War lesson, students compose letters to their families from the the perspective of soldiers in the war. 
Lesson Plan
Small Planet Communications

Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss political, social, and personal issues relating to the Civil War from various perspectives using internet sources. Students write various selections from Civil War characters' point of view.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War/ A Unit Overview

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders will look at the causes of the Civil War in detail. A brief unit on the war itself will follow. Battles, historical figures, and daily life will be studied. The webpage is a link to many different related lessons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A House Divided: Photography in the Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Pupils study Civil War photography and write captions for each picture based on context. In this Civil War photography lesson, students match photographs with their original captions. Pupils read included short biographies of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visual History of the Civil War III

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson plan, 8th graders analyze various images about the Civil War. Students write an essay in relation to the images of the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Experiencing the Civil War

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the Civil War.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders investigate the causes, effects, and the lives of people during the Civil War.  Students develop a research paper using various...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Research

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research different aspects of the Civil War using various multi-media techniques. Students create a report based on their research that includes views of the war from the point of view of the North, South and slaves.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War Experience

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the Civil War. For this Civil War lesson, 8th graders read and analyze primary sources. Students complete handouts in relation to the primary sources.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Picture: Worth One Thousand Words?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine photographs from the Civil War. Using a primary source document, they discover the conditions of a private during the Battle of Chickamauga. In groups, they use the sources to determine the authnecity of the documents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Was Contraband?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the role of African-Americans in the Civil War. Using primary sources, they analyze the material and formulate their own opinions about the past. They write journal entries to share their opinions on photographs from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Across Five Aprils/Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the Civil War novel, Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt. They review vocabulary and literary elements and write a "Brother Against Brother" essay about coming face to face with a brother in one of the battles of the...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Joshua Chamberlain Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
While Joshua Chamberlain's name is not as iconic as Abraham Lincoln or Robert E. Lee, he still played a pivotal role in the military engagements of the Civil War. Using two secondary sources—including one that draws heavily from his...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Preserving the Memory

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Civil War battlefields themselves are under siege by development and other forces. Using materials from the Battlefield Trust, individuals explore local areas that face threat and write letters to support their preservation. An...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Preservation of Civil War Battlefields

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the importance of battlefield preservation.  In this US History lesson, 8th graders participate in a virtual tour of battle sites.  Students create a map of Gettysburg to see the topography of the battle...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey to Gettysburg

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners use latitude and longitude to map the path of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African-American Soldiers in World War I: The 92nd and 93rd Divisions

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Young scholars research the role played and contributions made by African American soldiers during World War I. They discuss the evolution of civil rights in America's history, and the progress that has been made in the last 100 years.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln Goes to War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the secession crisis of 1861 and the significance of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. They read and analyze Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, conduct research, and write an executive memorandum.