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Fort Pickens and the Outbreak of the Civil War (38)
Young scholars discover why Fort Pickens was so valuable to both the Union and Confederacy, and follow the actions of the military commanders faced with crucial decisions. (National Park)
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Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances
Discuss the history of slavery by analyzing historic photography depicting slavery. Learners write fictional stories based on these photographs. This is a creative and motivating way to launch a discussion of these topics.
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Lesson Plan on Important Citizens in the American Civil War
Students, in groups, half representing the Confederacy, half the Union, conduct research to find out about important Civil War era citizens from each side. They explore the effect these people had on the war and what effect the war had...
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Putting a Face on History with Photographs
Use the Library of Congress to draw your students into history through photographs.
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Echoes of Blue and Grey: Weekend Warriors
High schoolers view a video about the Civil War and then describe famous battles from the perspective of either the Union or the Confederate side.
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Historical Scavenger Hunts
Students investigate the impact of historical events. In this historical scavenger hunt lesson, students examine photographs of a local monument that zoom in on details. Students record their impressions regarding the photos. Students...
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Memorials and Meaning
Students explore the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson plan, students collaborate to research the war. They examine Matthew Brady photographs that inspire them to create a memorial to honor those who served in the Civil War.
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Is Seeing Believing?
Pupils study different photographers who started the concept of battlefield photography. For this media lesson young scholars explore how to "read" a photograph and relate the use of photography during the Civil War to current use today.
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Reporting on a Battle
Students report on battles of the Civil War. In this American Civil War lesson plan, students conduct research that allows them to report on selected battles of the war. Student's newspapers should include eyewitness statements,...
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Andersonville National Historic Site
Young scholars describe the conditions of a prisoner of war camp during the Civil War. They analyze ways in whcih the soldiers dealt with prison life. They identify the location of any nearby prisoner of war camps.
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I Want To Take A Picture In 1866!
Eighth graders examine the role of technology. In the Civil War instructional activity, 8th graders look at the advent of photography and determine the impact of photography on the Civil War.
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Robert Smalls: Warrior and Peacemaker
Pupils research the events that led to the Civil War and the Reconstruction. In this Civil War history instructional activity, students study images of Robert Smalls and research his role in the Civil War. Pupils review the South...
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A Lesson on Reconstruction Legislation and Amendments
Students study the legislation and Amendments of Reconstruction period in America. In this Reconstruction lesson, students work in groups to dissect the Black Codes, an article in the US Constitution, as well as the 13th, 14th, and 15th...
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Fort Morgan
Students investigate how Mobile, Alabama was significant to the Confederacy during the Civil War. They analyze maps, read primary source documents, write a research paper on Civil War military technology, and explore the Fort Morgan...
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The Home Front (Circa 1863)
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American Civil War instructional activity, students examine sources and then write personal accounts of the war.
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618,000: Shall Not Have Died in Vain
Students explore the American Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students examine a slave auction advertisement and an Abraham Lincoln quote. Students also read Pink and Say, create a foldable regarding naval warfare, and design a...
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The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Realism
Students research the Civil War and make connections between the war and the interpretation of the war in the novel The Red Badge of Courage to help them understand realism. In this Civil War recounting lesson, students complete several...
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Red Legs: A Drummer Boy of the Civil War
Students identify and interpret the life of a drummer boy during the Civil War as well as about a reenactment. Students listen to a fictionalized story or a Civil War reenactor and compare ot with the life of the drummer boy the story...
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Civil War Leaders
Fifth graders explore leaders of the Civil War. In this history activity, 5th graders use picture puzzles, vocabulary, worksheets, WebQuest, a Venn Diagram and role play activities in order to learn who the Civil War leaders were, what...
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To Be or Not to Be: A Marriage of Civil War Descendants
Students examine primary documents related to the burning of Chambersburg during the Civil Way. In this Civil War era history instructional activity, students study numerous primary documents relating to the burning of the town of...
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Civil War and Reconstruction
Fourth graders investigate the Civil War by researching the state of Virginia. In this US History instructional activity, 4th graders identify Abraham Lincoln, James Chestnut and Fort Sumter, and discuss their roles in the start of the...
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Photographing War
Students examine the role of Matthew Brady photographing the Civil War and compare it with the role of photographers embedded in the War in Iraq.
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Prisoner of War
Students study prison life during the Civil War. As a class, they brainstorm questions about prison life. In groups, students read primary source documents that give clues to life in a civil war prison. Students draw conclusions and...
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Civil Rights/Segregation
Sixth graders investigate Civil Rights by participating in role-playing activities. In this U.S. History lesson plan, 6th graders research the history of slavery in order to portray a story through their debating and acting abilities. ...