Engaging With History in the Classroom

The Civil War (Grades 6-8)

Janice I. Robbins, Carol L. Tieso

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN:
  9781000492668
• Print ISBN:
  9781618212559
• Subtopic: Teaching Social Science

Engaging With History in the Classroom: The Civil War is the second in a series of middle-grade U.S. history units that focus on what it means to be an American citizen, living in a democracy that expects as much from its citizens as it provides to them. In every lesson, students are asked to step into the world of 19th-century America, to hear about and to see what was happening, to read the words of real people and to imagine their hopes, dreams, and feelings. Students also learn to question the accounts left behind and to recognize different perspectives on events that divided the nation but resulted in progress in the path to liberty for all. Resources for teachers include a running script useful as a model for guiding conceptualization as well as extensive teacher notes with practical suggestion for personalizing activities.

Grades 6-8

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents Page
• Unit Overview
• Lesson 1 What do you Know about the Civil War?
• Lesson 2 How did Differences between North and South Lead to Civil War?
• Lesson 3 The Issue of Slavery: Is Compromise the Answer?
• Lesson 4 How was Citizenship Defined in 1860?
• Lesson 5 Should Dred Scot be Free?
• Lesson 6 Should the South Secede from the Union?
• Lesson 7 From Fort Sumter to Appomattox: How did the War Progress?
• Lesson 8 Who was Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation?
• Lesson 9 What is the Historical Significance of Gettysburg?
• Lesson 10 What was Daily Life Like During the Civil War?
• Lesson 11 What if you Lived During the Civil War?
• Lesson 12 What have we Learned about the Civil War?
• References
• Appendix A: Concept Development Strategies
• About the Authors
• Common Core State Standards Alignment