Download Lesson on the Civil War

Lesson on the
Civil War
Grades 1-8
Highlights and
Activities for the
Civil War
By: Francine Bergmann
Objectives
Share personal reactions as a character, and what
it was like to live during the Civil War.
Use the internet to locate resources of the Civil
War and be able to incorporate them in writing.
Identify the causes of the Civil War and what
developments contributed to it.
Introduction
for Teachers
This unit is intended to combine computer skills, language, and social
subjects; should the teacher desire to combine class periods.
Students will be given a character role that lasts throughout the unit in
which they analyze what it was like during the Civil War, and defend
their views of what is taking place. There are several times in which
students will be allowed to journalize and to share projects.
There are tasks intended for teachers to adjust the schedule to meet the
needs of the students.
The first and second graders should be encouraged to be a part of the
group. Often they may draw pictures for their journals, or ask an
upper-grader to write what they say. Extra resources for this age group
are at the end of this lesson.
Instructions
Task # 1
You are to choose a character you will represent
throughout the unit.
Your choices are:
Union Soldier
16 yrs. old
You hope to go to school in the fall
Confederate Soldier
16 yrs. old
You are engaged to be married
Slave in Union or Confederate Army
Microsoft Clip Art
16 yrs. old
You hope to free your family after the war
Daughter whose father is fighting in the Union or Confederate Army
12 yrs. old
You hope to teach and earn some money for school
Web Sites for Journals
Task #1 continue
Ideas came from
Civil War Personal Journal
The American Civil War - The Struggle
to Preserve the Union
The Soldier's Life
Instructions
Task # 1 continue
Journalize in your notebooks.
What are your thoughts as you are ready to
go to war?
How do you feel toward this war?
Explain what is happening in your army?
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=
Instructions
Task #2
Locate what Ellen G. White had to say
about the Civil War. Type in “Parkville
Church and search for the Civil War.
Journalize in your notebooks.
Pretend a relative heard Ellen G. White
speak, and shared the message in a letter
to you. What are your thoughts about
what she had to say?
Instructions
Task #3
Students will read
by using jigsaw.
(where students are divided
into groups, and share with
the class the overview of
what they read.)
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1
Topics the teacher will give you:

Industrialization of northeast

Tariffs

Cotton gin

Developments in
transportation

Missouri Compromise, 1850

Kansan-Nebraska Act

Dred Scott case

1860 presidential election

Emancipation Proclamation
Instructions
Task #3 continue
In your groups, share
with the class what
you read.
In your journals, write
how each one affected
the Civil War.
1St and 2nd Graders:
May draw pictures for
each topic, or make a
drum.
* Make a Civil War
Drum
(1-2 sentences for each)
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?
CAG=1
Instructions
Task #4
Read “What Caused the Civil War? “ in
choral groups. (taking turns reading)
Write in your journal. In your view, what
caused the Civil War?
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1
Instructions
Task #5
Research one of the following battles:
Bull Run
Vicksburg
Chickamauga - Civil War
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of Richmond
Or another battle from Civil War Album
Microsoft Clip Art
Instructions
Task #5 continue
Create a report on the battle you choose.
Report must be half a page for each grade the student is in.
Example:
1st. ½ page
6th. 3 pages
Pictures are helpful!
Choose a Civil War song to share with your report.
The Civil War Music
Civil War Music
Microsoft Clip Art
Instructions
Task #5 continue
Choose a recipe that you might have eaten
to share with the class.
Civil War Recipes
Share your report, song, and recipe.
Microsoft Clip Art
Instructions
Task #6
Place your battle with three facts on the
class timeline.
Label on the large scale map where your
battle took place.
Helpful sites:
Time Line
States and Territories during the Civil War
Microsoft Clip Art
Instructions
Task #7
Microsoft Clip Art
Microsoft Clip Art
Research and find an animal that helped with the
civil war. The animal you pick must be from the
army you are a part of.
Animal Mascots of the Civil War
Write a small report (1 page) with a picture of your
animal. Pretend that this animal is your pet.
Remember that you are writing as the role you
picked earlier. (use “I”, 1st person)
Share what you learned to the class,
speaking in first person.
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG
Instructions
Task #8
Listen to your teacher read the book called,
Following the Drinking Gourd.
Participate in a class discussion.
Journalize - Pretend that you have
encountered a slave.
What do you do?
Are your actions morally correct?
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1
Instructions
Task #9
You are called to active duty on a ship with
other people in your unit. Decide what ship
you are stationed on.
Create a model-to-scale of your ship.
Journalize what it is like to be on your ship.
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CA
G=1
Instructions
Task #10
Research and discuss what were the needs of all
Americans, now that the war is over.
Decide who is a:
Spokes person
Scribe
Coach
Microsoft Clip Art
Journalize as your character role. Make a
persuasive article for a local newspaper what the
priorities should be for reconstruction after the
war.
Instruction
Task #11
Play a Civil War Bowl
Microsoft Clip Art
Teacher Resources
Teacher Lesson Plans
Civil War Bowl
Civil War Map –
Microsoft Clip Art
"States and Territories during the Civil War
First and Second grade –
Make a Civil War Drum
Resources for task #3
Contributions to the Web
This unit was made possible by those who
have shared their work on the internet. All
contributors have been hyper linked.
Microsoft Clip Art
Additional Resource
for First and Second Graders
Milliken, Linda. Civil War Era Activity Book.
Edupress, California, 1996
ISBN#1-56472-108-6
Microsoft Clip Art