High schoolers work in four different groups to examine the many factors that led to the American Civil War. They research an assigned topic, prepare questions, and finally engage in a class discussion using the Socratic Seminar method.

Concepts

socrates, socratic discussion, civil war, causes of the civil war, the united states civil war, american history

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Extend learning by asking scholars to write reflective essays about a cause of the Civil War discussed by a different Socratic seminar group

Classroom Considerations

• Requires handouts and class notes from the first semester/first half of the year 
• Before beginning the activities, each group must understand certain significant events in history, such as the Compromise of 1850

Pros

• Provides a long list of primary sources to use
  
• Includes a grading rubric to help assess learning

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.11-12.1.a SL.11-12.1.b SL.11-12.1.c SL.11-12.1.d SL.11-12.4 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.6 RH.11-12.7 RH.11-12.8 RH.11-12.9