In The Classroom

The Coming Storm

Slavery as a Cause for the Civil War (Grades 6-8)

Monocacy National Battlefield

http://www.nps.gov/mono/forteachers/lessonplansandteacherguides.htm

This lesson plan is intended for middle school students and explores the historical context and complexity of the slavery question and the political build-up to the Civil War.

 

Contrasting the North and South before the War (Grades 7-12)

Civil War Preservation Trust

http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/lesson-plans/contrasting-the-north-and-south-lesson/contrasting-the-north-and.html

This lesson plan asks students to consider the North and South as two distinct regions, identifying social, economic, and cultural differences. At the end of the unit, students are asked to write a comparative essay.

 

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Grades 6-8)

Civil War Preservation Trust

 http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/lesson-plans/uncle-toms-cabin-lesson/uncletomscabin.html

Students read excerpts from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. By the end of this unit, students will understand how the novel reveals period attitudes towards slavery and understand the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act in the years leading up to secession.

 

John Brown’s Raid Educational Resources

150^th Anniversary – John Brown’s Raid

http://www.johnbrownraid.org/resources.php

Provides links to lesson plans, videos, websites, and resources about John Brown’s Raid.

 

Creating a Timeline – John Brown’s Raid (Grades 9-12)

Civil War Preservation Trust

http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/lesson-plans/john-browns-body-lesson-plan/john-browns-raid-lesson-plan.html

Students create a timeline of events leading up to John Brown’s 1859 raid and its aftermath.

 

John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry (Grades 9-12)

Civil War Preservation Trust

http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/lesson-plans/lesson-plan/john-browns-raid-on-harpers.html

Students analyze primary documents to answer the question, “Was John Brown a Hero or Traitor?”

 

Disunion – Elementary

Civil War Preservation Trust

http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/curriculum/civil-war-curriculum/elementary/disunion/

This lesson plan is designed as an introduction for elementary school students to the origins of the Civil War. By the end of the unit, students will develop a basic understanding of the cultural and economic differences between North and South, John Brown’s raid, and the political events that led to secession.

 

Disunion – Middle School

Civil War Preservation Trust

http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/curriculum/civil-war-curriculum/middle-school/disunion/

This lesson plan is designed as an introduction for middle school students to the origins of the Civil War. By the end of the unit, students will develop an understanding of the cultural and economic differences between North and South, John Brown’s raid, and the political events that led to secession.

 

Disunion – High School

Civil War Preservation Trust

http://www.civilwar.org/education/teachers/curriculum/civil-war-curriculum/high-school/disunion/

Students are asked to analyze primary and secondary sources to determine the events, motivations, conditions, and actions that led to the Civil War.

 

Divided Maryland (Grades 4-8)

Monocacy National Battlefield

http://www.nps.gov/mono/forteachers/lessonplansandteacherguides.htm

This lesson plan focuses on Maryland’s divided political identity and war-time status as a border state.