Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

1861: The Country Goes to War

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
What was it like to know the Civil War was coming? Using a graphic timeline activity and excerpts of speeches from Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, learners consider the early days of the conflict. The resource includes prompts for...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Jeremiah Handley

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Designed for middle school scholars, a instructional activity explores the life of Jeremiah Handley, a young man when the Civil War broke out. Pupils read Handley's personal story, accounts of battles, and view images to understand what...
Interactive
American Battlefield Trust

Gettysburg Virtual Tour

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Step into one of the most iconic battlefields of the American Civil War with an educational interactive resource. Young historians learn about key moments, locations, soldiers, and turning points in the battle with a clickable map and...
Website
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Fort Sumter

For Students 9th - 10th
Animated map tells the story of the events that led up to the first shots of the Civil War fired at Fort Sumter. [7:31]
Website
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Fort Sumter April 12 14, 1861

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive information about the Battle of Fort Sumter. Includes maps, battle facts, biographies of the commanders, articles, historical resources, historic images, and even a 3-D photo presentation (which requires special 3-D glasses).
Website
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Palmito Ranch

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the battle and skirmishes that took place at Palmito Ranch, which was the final land battle of the Civil War. Includes links to articles on the battle, and biographies of the Union Commander, Col. Theodore H. Barrett, and the...
Website
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Sabine Pass: Second Battle of Sabine Pass

For Students 9th - 10th
A short description of the Second Battle of Sabine Pass. Includes links to a variety of resources, including articles, a battle map, images of the battlefield, biographies of the commanders, and more.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Fredericksburg

For Students 9th - 10th
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the battle of Fredericksburg.
Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Seven Days in History

For Students 9th - 10th
Noted Civil War historian Gary Gallagher offers this informative analysis of the Seven Days' Battles, the end of the Peninsula Campaign. Read about Robert E. Lee's strategy and the Confederate protection of their capital, Richmond.
Interactive
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: The Battle of Antietam

For Students 9th - 10th
Watch this animated Civil War simulation depicting the The Battle of Antietam of 1862.
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Gettysburg Address Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
A great lesson plan that examines Abraham Lincoln's greatest speech, the Gettysburg Address. Help students understand the speech in context and why it is relevant today. The lesson plan objectives, video, power points, and a thorough...
Website
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Battle of Antietam: Facts & Summary

For Students 9th - 10th
A large collection of resources for learning about the Battle of Antietam.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Chantilly

For Students 9th - 10th
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the battle at Chantilly, in Virginia, in 1862.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the Civil War battle at Franklin, Tennessee, in 1864.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Cedar Creek

For Students 9th - 10th
Animated map tells the story and shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the battle fought at Cedar Creek, Virginia, 1864.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Chancellorsville May 1, 1863

For Students 9th - 10th
This map tells the story and shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies on the first day of battle at Chancellorsville, Virginia, in 1863. The map can be downloaded in PDF format.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Battlefield Land We've Saved

For Students 9th - 10th
A U.S. map depicts historic land where Civil War battles were fought that has been saved by the Civil War Trust. It also presents current campaigns to save more land.
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Lesson Plans: High School

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Several lesson plans for high school aged students that are standards-based to help them learn about the Civil War.
Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: Robert E. Lee

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical profile of Robert E. Lee.
Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: Jefferson Davis

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical profile of Jefferson Davis.
Graphic
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Maps of Chickamauga, Georgia (1863)

For Students 9th - 10th
Animated map of the Battle of Chickamauga brings the Civil War to life with footage of the battlefield, map, and explanation.
Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: The First Income Tax

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an overview of the development of the first national income tax, instituted to fund the Civil War.
Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Battle of Kernstown: Stonewall Jackson's Only Defeat

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the importance of the Shenandoah Valley to the Confederates and Stonewall Jackson's determination to hold it at all costs. Find out why the Battle of Kernstown was a Pyrrhic vicotory for the Union.
Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: Albert Cashier Aka Jennie Hodgers: Private

For Students 9th - 10th
A biographical profile of Albert Cashier aka Jennie Hodgers, who, disguised as a man, fought with the Union army.