Lesson Plan

Fort Sumter

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

The headlines screamed what everyone knew was coming: War! While Fort Sumter was considered the first battle of the Civil War, the engagement played differently in newspapers at the time. Using coverage from Northern and Southern publications, pupils consider the context of each of the publicans. Extension possibilities include using online archives to explore other coverage and perspectives. 

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Use guiding questions to create a discussion about perspectives on Ft. Sumter as covered in contemporary newspapers
Classroom Considerations
  • Learners may need context on the causes of the Civil War
  • Expects instructors to create a free Stanford History Education Group to access the materials
Pros
  • Lesson includes PowerPoint and worksheets, making it ready to use
  • Activities allow for concrete practice of an abstract skill
Cons
  • None