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The U.S. Civil War

Authors: Ray Clere, Mindy Hayes, Jeff Stout, Jeff Vincent, Mimi Redden
School or Affiliation: Department of Education Cumberland College, Williamsburg, KY 40769
Endorsed By: Dr. Kwabena D. Ofori-Attah Cumberland College Williamsburg, Kentucky

Date: March 1997

Grade Level: Fourth Grade

Overview: The American Civil War is one landmark in the history of the nation that everyone needs to understand. Young children in particular need to understand that America did not become a great nation over night. America has become a great nation today through "blood and iron." Perhaps, this blood and iron "drama" was unnecessary.

Purpose: This lesson is intended to help students understand some of the problems America went through before becoming a great nation. It is the hope of the authors that the students will be able to assess the causes of the war and form their own conclusions.

Objectives: The students will:

  1. identify at least 7 vocabulary words and associate them with the American Civil War.
  2. identify major battles of the American Civil War
  3. design their own flag (Confederate or Union)
  4. watch a video

Resources/Materials Needed: Resource books, DuckTales video "Civil War", construction paper, scissors, glue, crayons and/or markers.

Activities:

  1. Art Project: Have students design their own flag, (Confederate or Union), out of construction paper.
  2. Have class watch DuckTales cartoon "Civil War".
  3. Have students create a new ending to the Civil War.
  4. Have students get into groups and discuss slavery.
  5. Have students play a matching game with their vocabulary words.
    1. Slavery-
    2. Union-
    3. Confederacy-
    4. Abraham Lincoln-
    5. Jefferson Davis-
    6. Gettysburg-
    7. Emancipation-
  6. Have students discuss Gettysburg Battle and its importance.

Tying It All Together:

  1. Have students display flags in hallway.
  2. Have students compare video to actual war.
  3. Have students create a small skit for parents at night based on their new endings they created for the war. (this should include vocabulary)
  4. Have students discuss openly what they discussed in their groups on slavery and the Battle of Gettysburg.
 
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