Civil War 6-8
Secession in 1861 to the Surrender of the Confederacy in 1865
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A Vote Away From War
Daniel Britt
Description of Lesson: Students will research and compile information from a wide variety of primary and secondary resources to establish their own theory about how the 1860 election led to the Civil War. Students will then present their conclusions to the class through a multimedia format of their choosing.
In the Words of the Enslaved
Lauren Eleuteri
Description of Lesson: The class will examine a number of slave narratives that give a first hand account of the experiences of enslaved men and women at the time of the Civil War. Students will complete a biography chart while reading their assigned slave narrative and will then write a biographical sketch about the enslaved man or women they studied.
Analysis of “O Captain! My Captain!"
Martie Arrowood
Description of Lesson: A cross-curricular lesson to show how poetry is used to describe a person in history. Students will use their knowledge of poetry and how to analyze the genre to explain what Walt Whitman’s poem “O Captain! My Captain!” means and how it relates to the atmosphere of the time period.
Civil War Battle Display
Daniel Britt
Description of Lesson: Students will explore a battle through sources available and then create a poster featuring the important participants, logistic strategies, expected or unexpected outcomes, and the significance of the battle as it related to the end of the war.
The Emancipation Proclamation and its Strength
Dale Shaw
Description of Lesson: Students will examine parts of the Emancipation Proclamation and with the help of partner resources, determine three strengths and/or weaknesses of the decree.
The Civil War Through the Words of Lincoln
Lauren Eleuteri
Description of Lesson: Students will analyze several of Abraham Lincoln’s writings/speeches in order to assess his views of the war. Students will also examine how things may have changed throughout the course of the war by drawing clues from the 16th President’s words. Finally, students will share their opinion about Lincoln’s legacy.
Civil War Museum Makers
Jennifer Stenerson
Description of Lesson: As a culminating project for a Civil War unit, students will become designers/planners for a Civil War museum/memorial that is being built. They will be required to plan the design of the building, choose the artifacts and exhibits that will be in the museum, explain why they chose those particular artifacts, and decide where everything will go inside the museum so it makes the greatest impact and best learning experience for the patrons. You could easily make this a cross-curricular project including math (perimeter, area, proportions, etc.) in the design aspect.
Using Artifacts When Teaching the Civil War Time Period
Lynn Cavanaugh-Blades
Description of Lesson: In this lesson we will discuss objects that tell about the everyday life of a culture. Then we will transfer this process to the study of a Civil War artifact, discussing what the artifact tells about that time period.
Civil War Review Game
Martie Arrowood
Description of Lesson: This is a review “game” that involves dividing the class into 2 groups and answering questions concerning the curriculum until one side (group) eliminates the “enemy.” I have found that with the amounts of specific information the unit provides this review activity helps students focus on the material and will have an idea of important concepts through questioning.
The Many Facets of Abraham Lincoln
Dale Shaw
Description of Lesson: Students will look at varying opinions about Lincoln during the Civil War time period. They will consider why the South was not happy with the president and will study a speech by Abraham Lincoln showing his views.
My Point of View as a Civil War Hero
Jennifer Stenerson
Description of Lesson: Students will research famous Civil War heroes. After they research, they will choose their favorite hero and take on their persona as they write a short first person account from the point of view of their hero.
Old Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson:
Two Eras of Our Local History
Joe Newton
Description of Lesson: Students will be introduced to the role that Brunswick Town played in the colonial development of N.C. Also, transcending across to the next century, students will gain a perspective of the importance of Fort Anderson during the American Civil War. This will culminate in a field trip to this State Historic Site where students will be presented with reenactments and a guided walking tour of the area.
Fort Fisher and Wilmington, N.C. During the Civil War
Joe Newton
Description of Lesson:This lesson was developed to enhance the student's knowledge of local history. Given that many students have parents that are not native to our area, the intent is to introduce 8th graders to the importance that our local geographic area played in maintaining the Confederacy during the Civil War and the social impacts that resulted from this unique predicament.
Through Their Eyes: Slavery In North Carolina
Holly Byrd
Description of Lesson: Students will read about and profile ex-slaves through their narratives. Students will write narratives of their own or conduct interviews of family members who lived through a significant historic event.
A Soldier’s Life
Martie Arrowood
Description of Lesson: A cross-curricular lesson to show how artifacts are used to analyze the conditions of a group of people. Students will use their knowledge of analyzing primary source documents to determine why soldiers were deserting in large numbers.
Civil War Medicine
Nicole McIntyre
Description of Lesson: In this lesson, students (working individually, with partners, or small groups) will use various websites to investigate the role medicine and doctors played during the American Civil War. The student activities are independent of one another and do not need to be completed in order or even by all students. Each activity culminates in a student created product. Students will read accounts of surgeons and doctors, through the documents on the Legion of Valor website and other internet sites. It is to be noted that Medals of Honor were presented to doctors and surgeons during the Civil War.
Using Journalism to Define
Life in North Carolina During the Civil War
Daniel Britt
Description of Lesson: Students will use archived historical North Carolina based newspapers during the period as a primary source document to examine life in North Carolina during the antebellum, civil war, and reconstruction periods for the average North Carolinian. During their research they should analyze the personal attitudes, real-life episodes
on the home-front, and some of the economic issues that North Carolinians were faced with. Students may also choose to identify how newspapers presented and sometimes influenced politics, and how some newspaper
editors used their publications to shape public opinion during this volatile period in our state's history.
On the frontlines with the Yanks and
Rebels of the American Civil War
Daniel Britt
Description of Lesson: After careful analysis of battlefield scenes from the American Civil War, students will interpret what life was like for the young men on the frontlines from either side.
Family Relationships and the Civil War
Sherry Wood
Description of Lesson: Discussion of the family dynamic during the Civil War using both primary sources and literature to connect the ideas to family life.
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