American Battlefield Trust
Antietam 360
It was the single bloodiest day in Civil War history. Now, class members have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Antietam using an interactive website. Supplemental resources include...
TED-Ed
A Digital Reimagining of Gettysburg
Why would Robert E. Lee order Pickett's Charge, an action that changed the course of the Civil War? Geographer and historian Anne Knowles uses digital technology to explain what she thinks is the missing piece in trying to understand...
Curated OER
Gather 'Round And Hear My Tale
Students listen to a story about a tragic and amazing Civil War battle. They draw what they imagine the scene looking like and write a reaction paper to what they heard.
Curated OER
The Battle of Antietam
Students discover the Battle of Antietam is the bloodiest war in American history. They realize that over 20,000 men lost their lives in a single day. Students will write newspaper articles to cover the front page.
Curated OER
The Vernors Lesson
Students fill out "Effects of the Civil War" question and answer sheet and discover that Vernors was created as a direct result of the Civil War.
Curated OER
Reporting from the Front Lines
Students examine the battle of Gettysburg as they write news articles. In this Battle of Gettysburg instructional activity, students become familiar with the job of the news reporter as they report on the events of the Battle of...
American Battlefield Trust
The Home Front
Women and children played key roles during the Civil War, even if their voices are often lost in history. By studying letters and personal testimony from them, budding historians get a glimpse into the day-to-day life of civilians during...
Curated OER
Weapons Of War: The Monitor
Students investigate the building of the first warships of the Civil War. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students compare and contrast two battleships of the era using a graphic organizer. They also compose a journal...
Curated OER
Firestorms: The Bombing of Civilians in World War II
Students examine the implication of civilian targets in war. In this World War II instructional activity, students investigate the history of bombing practices in war. Students zero in on World War II bombing practices as they discuss...
PBS
Think Like a Historian: A Viewing Guide
Calling all junior detectives! Scholars use the tools of investigation to determine the causes and impacts of the American Civil War. Using viewing guides, videos, group research, and written resources, they discover what it takes to...
PBS
Evaluating Conflicting Evidence: Sultana
What sunk the Sultana? Scholars become investigators to uncover the facts behind the 1865 sinking just after the end of the Civil War. Through group work, videos, and primary documents, they research and analyze why 1,800 men died....
Curated OER
The Civil War
Eighth graders engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the Civil War and they conduct research using a variety of resources. The research is used to create the context for class discussion and a possible project as an...
Curated OER
Letters, Telegrams, and Photographs Illustrating
Students research the factors that are important in winning a battle in the Civil War. In a second activity they are assigned the role of a specific type of person during the Civil War and asked to describe what it's like being that person.
Curated OER
Lesson: Allison Smith: What Are You Fighting For?
Trench art is a nontraditional art form created by soldiers in trenches during wartime. Artist Allison Smith connects her art to the American Revolution and the question: "What are you fighting for?" Kids examine her art, how it connects...
Curated OER
Chancellorsville 360
Experience a Civil War battlefield up close. Chancellorsville 360 allows scholars to explore the battlefield in an interactive format. The site demonstrates the layout of the battlefield, strategies, and key events. Created for high...
Curated OER
Preserving the Memory
Young historians explore ways to help preserve historic battlefields and artifacts. Designed for secondary scholars, the resource focuses on Civil War battlefields and the National Registrar of Historic Places Application. Pupils also...
Curated OER
A Union Soldier's View of the Battle of Raymond
Students use a primary resource to collect information about a Civil War battle. They identify similarities and differences between historical wars and modern wars.
Curated OER
1862 MARYLAND CAMPAIGN, AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Students explain why General Robert E. Lee decided to invade Maryland in September 1862; review the major events of the Maryland Campaign of 1862; describe the major events of the three phases of the Battle of Antietam; and assess the...
Curated OER
The Vernor's Lesson
Students review list of statements pertaining to United States History, and determine whether statements happened during the Civil War, after the Civil War, or had no connection to War. Students then speculate about connection between...
Curated OER
Is Seeing Believing?
Pupils study different photographers who started the concept of battlefield photography. In this media lesson students explore how to "read" a photograph and relate the use of photography during the Civil War to current use...
Curated OER
Choices and Commitments: The Soldiers at Gettysburg
Learners investigate the Gettysburg Campaign and the major actions for each day of the battle. They read primary source documents, write a diary entry, analyze the Gettysburg Address, and write a persuasive speech regarding an issue in...
Curated OER
Body / Kinesthetic & Visual / Spatial
Tenth graders produce a multimedia project using HyperStudio. This project is similiar to an "information kiosk", with engaging media to "tell a story" about the Battle of Gettysburg. They have knowledge about the Civil War events that...
Curated OER
Reporters at Gettysburg A WebQuest
Students create newsletters about the Battle of Gettysburg. In this Civil War lesson, students create a webquest based on the battle. Students use the information and sources to create a Gettysburg newsletter.
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils
Eighth graders are introduced to the novel "Across Five Aprils" written by Irene Hunt. They become familiar with the people, places, and events referenced in the story and comprehend the story of the Civil War. Students are given a...