USA Civil War Unit Study
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Lesson Ideas for Teaching about the Civil War
Those of you who have visited my webpages before know that I am a homeschool educator always searching for knowledge and information to teach my children. Hopefully the more I study, the more I can help them with their studies. We try to approach our studies from many angles using a variety of materials and resources, and work with as many hands-on activities that we can find including field trips, cooking, art, music, and lapbooks!
This page is my collection of materials about the American Civil War that we studied last school year. You will find unit studies, individual lesson plans, videos, songs, recipes, projects, lapbook templates, and a hodge podge of whatever else I found that I thought looked interesting. No, we did not using everything on this page! But, since I have children in high school, middle school, and elementary, you will find a wide range of materials for all ages here. Please look over the resources before using with your students due to the graphic nature of some (especially in the videos).
We will add any other interesting pages that we come across, list the books we read, and share photos of projects we work on! I like to get your imput, so there is a place for you to add your blogs and websites that you found useful with your students. I hope that my research will help make your search for educational resources easier. Educating our children is easier with a team effort. Thank you to the people who have made recommendations to me for this page.
Photo credits to Photobucket for most photos on this page!
Unit Studies about the Civil War
Units which contain lessons in more than just history.
~ *Teaching the Civil War with Technology Wiki Homepage ~ I was really impressed with the large amount of information found here! You will find links to almost every Civil War topic possible ~ major battles, blogs, curriculum (see below link), famous people, presentations, resources & related sites, photography, primary sources, underground railroad & slavery, and videos. The Teaching the Civil War with Technology Blog Homepage contains articles, suggestions, and links to various Civil War topics. TCWT Curriculum Page has links to books, curriculum supplements, lesson plan links, miscellaneous topics, and webquests. Civil War Sallie
~ *Civil War Lesson Plans ~ 14 lessons, online and printable quizes, reading sources, activities - Links to photos, timelines, biographies, vitual tour, slavery & underground railroad, quizes, and clipart.
~ *Civil War Curriculum ~ from the Civil War Preservation Trust ~ find curriculum for grades 5, 8, 11, and gifted students; lesson plans; web resources; glossary; student section, crossword puzzles, interactive maps, and more.
~ *Civil War Unit ~ This 14 week plan from another homeschool mom is awesome! It has a variety of activities.
~ *Civil War Unit ~ at History Place: Fantastic Timeline & Information about battles and more..
~ *Civil War Unit ~ by Cindy Downes at Oklahoma Homeschool.
~ *Civil War Unit ~ a large unit from the homeschool family at Highland Hitcho.
~ Civil War Unit ~ contains many categorized links.
~ **Some of my other favorite units are found under the lapbook section of this webpage!
Civil War Videos
Parents & Teachers: These videos are about an ugly war, but are educational.
Please view in advance to decide if they are right for your students or not.
Civil War Lesson Plans
Sources of Materials and Links for Teachers
~ Civil War at History Central: Major Battles, American & Americans in the Civil War Period, Biographies of Union & Confederate Generals, Naval Chronology, Black Americans Contribution to Union Intelligence, Major Events of the years 1861 - 1865
~ A Nation Divided from Splash Publications is a free 18 page lesson from a larger Civil War unit that may be purchased..
~ American Civil War~ lesson plans and thematic units.
~ Civil War Lessons is a lesson plan from Mrs. Donn using primary sources for study.
~ Civil War Links ~ Great collection of resources!
~ Civil War Lesson Plans & Activities ~ Teachers and kids listings from Mr. Donn.
~ Civil War at History Place
~ Civil War (1860 - 1865) ~ Several history articles
~ Civil War & Slavery Lesson Plans
~ Civil War for Kids from Pocantico Hills School.
~ The American Civil War: Find articles and information: Summary Of Events, Civil War Timeline, State Battle Maps, Battles By Campaign , Naval Ships and Battles, Alphabetic Battle List, Colored Troops, Women in the War, Civil War Music , History, Battle Statistics, Picture Album, Civil War Documents, Period Maps, Naval Timeline , Army Organization, Antietam Battle Field, Shiloh, Tennessee, Appomattox Court House, Battle of Brandy Station, Confederate Constitution, Causes Research, Chickamauga, Confederate Flags, Confederate Navy, Cumberland Gap , First Battle Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Galveston, Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg Address, Ironclad Gunboat Galena, Murfreesboro, U.S.S. Monitor, C.S.S. Virginia, First Ironclad Battle, Vicksburg Campaign, New York 63rd, Women Soldiers, Underground Railroad, Second Manassas, Sanitary Commission , Quartermaster History , Civil War Submarine, Union Hardtack Recipe, Union Generals, Confederate Commanders, History Channel DVDs, Civil War Reenactments, Confederate Johnny Cakes, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, Stonewall Jackson, George B. McClellan, General John B. Hood, General Robert E. Lee, General Philip Sheridan, General George Meade, William T. Sherman, CSA General Early, Rutherford B. Hayes, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Mary Todd Lincoln, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Clara Barton, John Wilkes Booth, Dred Scott, Medal Of Honor Citations, Battle at Gettysburg, Soldiers Letters, Causes of the War, Union Soldier, Civil War Music, Underground Railroad, Medicine and Hospitals, Civil War Flags, Newspaper Reporting, Zouave Regiment ...
Educational Videos
Learn by Observing
~ *Causes of the Civil War
~ Civil War Timeline
~ Women of the Civil War
~ Teaching the Civil War with Technology ~ wonderful series entitled "Civil War Sallie"
~ Confederate Generals in Gettysburg
~ The PA Bucktail Regiment
~ Civil War Coffee
Civil War Teaching Resources
Spotlight on America: Civil War
Civil War Multimedia Collection
Educational Webquests & Powerpoints
~ Civil War ~ Go on a webquest to find the following: The Basics, Places to Explore, Be an Explorer with a variety of interesting activities, Search Related Links, Lesson Plan, and Vocabulary.
~ Civil War Virtual Museum ~ Click on recordings of speeches, readings, and songs about the Civil War. Answer the questions provided.
~ Our America ~ Civil War ~ Travel on another wonderful adventure with Scholastic!
~ Civil War Webquest from London Towne School, Fairfax Country, VA
~ A Nation Divided ~ Civil War Webquest
~ The North Versus the South ~ Civil War Webquest
~ The American Civil War ~ Webquest labeled for 11th grade.
~ Civil War Power Point Presentations ~ several for teachers and students.
Old Time Radio Flier 56 "YOU ARE THERE!"
Interesting, Educational Radio Shows by 'TheWhistler'
~ The Battle of Gettysburg
~ The Monitor and the Merrimack
~ The First Battle of Bull Run
~ Lee and Grant at Appomattox
~ Bombardment of Fort Sumter
~ The Capture of John Wilkes Booth
~ More ...
Slavery
A Very Low Period of History
~ American Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights Timeline
~ The Underground Railroad resources from Mr. Donn
~ African American History at Enchanted Learning - timeline, bios, worksheets, printables.
~ Journey to the Bottomless Pit ~ literature lapbook unit at Homeschool Share. "This is a fictionalized account of a slave who gave tours of Mammoth Cave, beginning in 1838 when he was 17.
The Underground Railroad
~ Freedom Train Unit
~ The Underground Railroad from National Geographic - What would you do?
~ Underground Railroad (Interactive Site)
~ All Aboard! ~ a webquest about the Underground Railroad.
~ Follow the Drinking Gourd ~ literature lapbook unit study and lapbook pictures.
Harriet Tubman
~ Harriet Tubman ~ biography, coloring pages, timeline, quizzes.
~ Harriet Tubman ~ biographical articles.
~ Harriet Tubman & the Underground Railroad ~ written by and for a 2nd grade class - timeline, quiz, crossword puzzles, vocabulary quilt, "Who said this?", character sketches, poems, maps, pictures, books, classroom activities, and links.
Frederick Douglass
~ Frederick Douglass Worksheets from Enchanted Learning
~ Frederick Douglass biography and articles.
HOCPP 1014 Slavery (In the Hands of a Child: Project Pack Continent Study)
Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
The 13 page research section and 20 hands on lapbook activities from Hands of a Child help students to understand slavery in the United States.
President Abraham Lincoln
The 16th President of the United States of America
~ Abraham Lincoln: the Boy Who Loved Books ~ a literature unit study and lapbook from Homeschool Share.
~ Abraham Lincoln ~ biography and activity worksheets - mini books, quiz, fill in the blank, pennies, five dollars, timeline, Lincoln Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, alphabet code, and word search.
~ Abraham Lincoln ~ Educational Video from TeacherTube
Abraham Lincoln's World by Foster
A Homeschool Family Favorite for Learning
Abraham Lincoln's World, Expanded Edition
Amazon Price: $21.49 (as of 05/30/2012)
Genevieve Foster has written an incredible series of history books for all ages! The Lincoln book, just as the others in the series, is packed full of information. Although it has enough materials to probably be considered a text book, Mrs. Foster makes the reading more enjoyable in story form. What I like the most about the book is the way that she not only tells her readers about Mr. Lincoln, but has woven in other worldly events and people of the time period. A deeper understanding of the 'what's' and 'who's' of a person's lifetime help a student understand the 'how's' and 'why's' of their actions. The book helped me make connections of worldly events in a way that I had not thought about before.
For instance, I've studied about Lincoln and Beethoven, but never at the same time. They were both men in history with which I made no connection. I realized that these two incredible gentlemen lived at the same time. Maybe not a profound thought to you, but as a perpetual music student, this connection helped me to understand both of the men better. If you glance through the description of the book below, you will recognize many other famous names. I remember studying them all, but instead of separate events in time, it really helped to get an overall feeling of the 1800's.
The first time we went through this book together, we borrowed it from the library. When we came to studying the time period again, we decided we wanted a copy of our own. Whichever you choose, this is a book that should be on every youth's (and adult's) reading list.
The Union President
Civil War Lapbooks & Notebooks
So Much Fun to Create While Learning!
~ *The War Between the 'Tates 1861 - 1865 Lapbook from 2 Dynamic Moms! ~ This is a very complete Civil War Unit & Lapbook. It gives you everything you need plus several links to adjoining information.
~ *Civil War Lapbook pictures and suggestions for a unit.
~ Civil War Printable Worksheets ~ wordsearch, vocabulary, crosswords, challenge (mini quiz), alphabet activity, write & draw Emancipation Proclamation, tic-tac-toe game (with North & South hats as playing pieces), Lincoln & Soldiers coloring page, Lee & Grant coloring page.
~ Civil War Lapbook from Homeschool Share (see directly below!)
Civil War Bubble Gum Trading Cards?
Great Civil War Projects
Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
My children really enjoyed using this book as we studied the Civil War. Each section starts with a discussion about an aspect of Civil War life and is followed by a hands-on project such as cornbread, hardtack, telegraph, pinhole camera, periscope, flag, clothing, rag doll, ink and paper, and models. Historical photos and a glossary add to understanding for middle through high school students.
Civil War Photo Galleries & Clipart
If you are searching for more pictures to use in your learning projects,
you will find some by clicking on "Flickr" under these ones.
~ Civil War Photo Gallery
~ Civil War Photographs
~ Confederate Clip Art Gallery
~ Civil War ~ Harper's Weekly
Resources for Learning Geography
Major Battles & Battlefields of the Civil War
~ The Civil War Animated website has incredible "animated" downloads free of charge to use on the site, or for purchase on a CD. The battle animations take you through all the major campaigns step by step on a map / timeline with text boxes describing the events, actions, and movements of the armies. You may track events by battle or general. These are not violent graphics, so they are appropriate for perhaps upper elementary and up, but please check through them first to see if they match your goals for your students. Read a review about the site from here.
~ Battle of Fort Sumter ~ 1 minute video of basic facts at Teacher Tube.
~ Bombardment of Fort Sumter.mp3 ~ CBS Radio Show chronicling the events of April 12, 1861, originally broadcast on May 22, 1949.
~ Battle of Antietam
Battlefields Of The Civil War Map 1961
The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
~ Gettysburg National Military Park's ~ Main Website ~ Information Sections on: History & Culture, Nature & Science, For Teachers, For Kids, Photos & Multimedia, and Plan Your Visit.
~ The Civil War Page For Kids! includes: The Big Picture, Regiments, War Medicine, Civil War Food, Report the War, Marching Music, Soldiers' Letters, Civil War Slang, Civil War Flags, Granite Soldiers, Fix our Museum, Read A Book!, and WebRangers.
~ A Nation Divided ~ Gettysburg Webquest for Kids ~ Teacher Section Included
Gettysburg Photos from Flickr
Flickr updates these automatically once a day. We find some of them to be useful in notebooks, lapbooks, reports, posters, collages, and other projects.
Map of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Creative Writing Prompts & Research Topics
~ Pretend you are a soldier writing a letter home to your family. Pick one battle or event to tell them about.
~ Pretend you are a family member waiting at home. Write a letter that you hope may reach a loved one who is fighting as a soldier.
~ Pick one of the jobs of soldiers and pretend you did that job. Write a resume or job description about the details of that position.
~ You have just been elected president of the United States. (Congratulations!) Write about what stand you would take on the issues and why. What measures would you take to try to promote peace between the states?
~ Research a key leader from one of the armies. List accomplishments or failures of this person in your essay. Do you agree or disagree with this person's decisions?
~ Pretend that you were a slave. Write about how you would feel if you had been in chains and sold.
~ Research the Underground Railroad. Do a research paper about some of the leaders of the movement.
~ Write a story about what it might have been like to travel upon the Underground Railroad.
~ Write about what you could have done to help end slavery.
~ Research about Florence Nightingale and her contributions to the Red Cross and the nursing field.
~ Pretend you are the wife of one of the soldiers who has been following the army. What do you do? Write about how you care for the soldiers with health care, food, or other needs.
~Write an essay about the role of women during the war.
Civil War Music
~ Songs of the Civil War ~ Midi files and lyrics.
~ Poetry & Music of the War Between the States
~ The Civil War Music Site ~ lyrics and a few recordings of songs and fife and drum music, photographs of musicians, some historical background, videos of live performances, and my favorite, the "Drummer's & Fifer'sGuide" which includes info to play the instruments and some sheet music.
~ American Popular Music Before 1800's ~ A Chronological History of American Music to 1900: Music is arranged by time period and events. The songs have a variety of materials: composer info, song history, lyrics, recordings, and sheet music; Spiritual & Slave Songs; Civil War & Reconstruction Period Music.
Songs of the Era
~ Erie Canal
~ Johnny Comes Marching Home
~ Battle Hymn of the Republic
~ America the Beautiful
Civil War Cooking
Foods & Recipes
~ Civil War Cooking
~ Feeding the Soldiers
~ Civil War Food: over 30 links to webpages about camp food, recipes, and more.
~ American Civil War Recipes: Find descriptions, pictures, recipes, and videos about food during the times of the Civil War.
Children's Books about the Civil War
The Reconstruction Period After the War
~ Gilded Age Period (1878 - 1889) ~ History Articles
~ Progressive Era (1890 - 1913) ~ History Articles
What do you think?
I'm almost afraid to ask this because I have both Northern and Southern relatives and friends who feel passionate about this topic, but I value opinions on both sides of issues. Because I'm interested in learning about history on a deeper level, I am curious about people's thoughts outside of the textbooks. For example, I met some actors from a reenactment a few years ago who opened up a whole new side of the debate that I had never heard or thought of before. I was glad to hear their stories. I'm learning as an adult that I still have quite a bit to learn and understand. I welcome your knowledge with an open mind. Explain your choice, but let's be kind to one another, please.
Thank you to all who have left comments and thoughts.
Secession of the Southern States 1861 Wall Map
Which side of the conflict would you have supported?
Union North
Preservethem says:
The North. Slavery was not the key issue. The fact that the south tried to destroy the country that their ancestors built and that was wrong.
waldenthree.net says:
Valuable lens, wonderful presentation and photos. Could the Civil War be avoided ? Vote my referendum I just posted. I vote "Like" on this valuable discussion. Thanks.
ViolinStudent says:
I'd have to say the North, but I can definitely see the argument for States' Rights. It's hard to put myself into the position of living back then, but I think the South erred greatly in their political analysis. Both parts of the country really had to depend on one another. It would have been very difficult for either the Union or the Confederacy to survive without the other.
tvyps says:
Who could ever say they would support slavery...most people that didn't live through it or the oppression that followed could ever say they would support the South. Same as today that the young skinheads worship Hitler...they didn't know what it was really like. The Swastika is banned in Europe, as should the Confederate Flag be banned in the USA. You still see it as part of State flags! Preposterous!
Lisa says:
As an American of African descent, whose ancestors were held in chains in this country (in the Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina specifically), the obvious answer would be-I and all my family (past and present) would have supported the Union North. I say this however, mindful that President Lincoln's primary objective (despite his personal convictions or lack thereof) was not the abolition of slavery when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law; rather it was to 'break the back of the (agricultural) South', which was dependent upon the physical labor of enslaved African peoples and preserve the United States. Had he found another way to disrupt the South, I would still most likely be in chains and not be in a position to respond to this poll today. In response to a statement made by Michey on the atrocities of Northern generals. Please read the first two chapters of the autobiography of Frederick Douglas and Booker T. Washington. Slavery which was held in so high a regard by the Southern gentry was the Devil's work. It stained both black and white alike.
Confederate South
PaperQuest says:
I would side with the south. Slavery was just one issue and not the main one. I don't defend slavery, it was wrong then and will always be wrong. But I think the Civil War was fought primarily over states rights. And even though I would never want this country divided we all lost something due to this war. And the confederate flag is not a symbol of slavery, it is a symbol of what this country was designed to be, a confederacy of states, not a federal government to rule us all.
Michey says:
I wasn't born in this country, so I start looking with a fresh mind, but after reading a lot for my Civil War lenses, my heart is clearly for the South. This is way:
1) even now the southern region of this beautiful country is more patriotic
2) the family values are stronger in South, and, yes, more related with my own education
3) the war was too cruel, especially the end of it
4) the south lost too much
5) the volunteer work by southern people during the tragic war was a great example of human kind. I admire them
6) I just cannot say the I admire Northern Generals, their atrocities were beyond normal code of war and this is why the south lost so much.
OhMe says:
I would have to say the South since I am a born and raised Southerner. It is so hard to teach anyone about the Civil War especially the young mind. Those were indeed difficult times and I am glad that I didn't have to be a part of it. We can't re-write our history but we can learn from it. My relatives fought for the South but were not slave owners
Featuring Your Websites & Blogs!
Do you have any favorite webpages for Civil War teaching materials? (I know I am lacking materials and topics here, but would love to learn more.) Have you written a unit that you want to share on a site or blog? Please do so below! :-D
1
Young Heroes of History ~ Lesson Plans
Send 'Em South, On the Trail of John Brown's Body, more...1 point
2
Civil War Lesson Plans
The Civil War era is one of the most critical and more...1 point
3
EyeWitness To The American Civil War
EyeWitness Accounts Of The American Civil War1 point
Evaluation
~ *Interactive Lessons, Activities, & Games ~ Civil War, Wars in US History
~ Civil War Trivia ~ 63 questions / answers on online cards at Flashcard Exchange, created by Highland Heritage.
Civil War Pages
Thank you!
Special thanks to Reasonablerobinson who nominated this page for a purple star award on September 21, 2010! Thanks, also, to the following SquidAngels for their "blessings" on the page!Was this page helpful or educational?
I value your opinion. Please let me know how I did. : )
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
What are you thoughts about the Civil War?
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BruceJackson1 Apr 28, 2012 @ 10:50 pm | delete
- I have always been fascinated with the War Between the States and how it impacted this nation, even with its aftermath of the Reconstruction and the inevitable period of Jim Crow. Great resource links for homeschoolers and others. God bless!
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ogrote
Apr 15, 2012 @ 3:22 pm | delete
- Great lens. Great example. I am new to Squidoo. I've just posted by first lens about the Titanic yesterday. The world will be a better place, If today's world leaders had a better understanding of the importance of knowledge about history - the mistakes of the past are being repeated on countless occasions!
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bloomingrose
Apr 1, 2012 @ 2:00 am | delete
- Great lens. Civil War history is more murky than most imagine. Angel blessings.
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PaperQuest Feb 20, 2012 @ 6:10 pm | delete
- I really like your lens. I have a number of lens based on Civil War ironclads, mostly those of the confederacy.
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RhondaSplint
Feb 14, 2012 @ 10:23 am | delete
- What an awesome lens. Full of information. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi! My name is Pamela and I am a Christian homeschool mom to three awesome children and wife to a darling man for 20 years. I love teaching and working... more »
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