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Civil War Photographs
Eighth graders explore the new technology brought on by the Civil War. In this U.S. History instructional activity, 8th graders examine photographs and drawings that depict the changes that happened as a result of the Civil War,...
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Questions to “Drawing the Color Line”
In this African American history activity, students watch "Drawing the Color Line" and then respond to 6 short answer questions about slavery.
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Historical Events
Fourth graders make predictions about the story Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt based on what they know about slavery. In this predictions lesson plan, 4th graders finish reading the story to see if they were right.
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Gold Rush Abolitionists: What Impact did John Brown have on U.S. history?
Students examine the impact that John Brown had on American history. In this human rights lesson plan, students discover details about the raid on Harpers Ferry and the implications it held for the American Civil...
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Gold Rush Abolitionists: How different was the role of Spanish-speaking blacks under Mexican rule from the role of English-speaking blacks under U.S. rule?
Students determine how Spanish-speaking blacks and English speaking blacks were treated differently. In this emancipation lesson, students compare the Mexican and American rules regarding slavery.
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Go Down Moses
Fifth graders investigate the workings of the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, 5th graders read personal accounts from slaves, examine secret codes of the Underground Railroad, and play a board game based on the trip many...
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Underground Railroad
Fourth graders reflect on their knowledge of the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, 4th graders discuss slavery and watch a video. Students complete a K-W-L chart after discussion and reading, as well as, a...
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What Does This Song Really Say?
Students investigate communication by analyzing lyrics from a song. In this music arts lesson, students discuss slavery, the Underground Railroad and African American traditions while listening to a song called "This Train." Students...
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Learning About Life as a Slave
Students explore the history of slavery. In this slavery instructional activity, students take a closer look at slavery in the Americas and the abolitionist movement as they visit the suggested museums and their websites.
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Dispute Over Slavery in Kansas Territory
Students analyze primary sources on slavery from Kansas Territory. In this Civil War lesson, students evaluate the antislavery and pro-slavery arguments and summarize key points. Students write a persuasive paper from the antislavery...
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Destination of Slaves in 1800
In this slave trade worksheet, students use the provided Atlantic Slave Trade statistics to create a pie chart and a bar graph. Students also respond to 4 short answer questions.
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Daily Life in Virginia
Students explore colonization in North America. In this United States history lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about indentured servants and slave labor, then construct a related Venn diagram. Students answer...
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Lincoln 2.0
Students investigate the Presidential history of Abraham Lincoln by completing a multimedia project. In this U.S. politics lesson, students examine the image of Lincoln on a penny and work in groups to research Lincoln's life using...
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The Underground Railroad and The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Students discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Students view a video on YouTube about the...
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America responds to Dred Scott
Eleventh graders examine the reactions Americans had to the Dred Scott decision. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read editorials from newspapers. Students analyze these editorials and audio tapes from that...
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Slave Resistance
Students examine slavery and slave resistance. In this history lesson, students read several excerpts on slavery then work in small groups to reflect and answer questions on the readings.
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Eli Thayer and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Students determine how states were identified as slave states or free states. In this Kansas-Nebraska Act lesson plan, students explore the work of Eli Thayer as well as the work of Thayer's supporters in Massachusetts.
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A Southerner’s Reaction to the Republicans
In this Civil War worksheet, students write a letter to the editor of a local Southern newspaper in 1960. The letter should feature Republican platform statements regarding the issue of secession.
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Slavery, Manumission, and Freedom: Free Blacks in Charleston before the Civil War
Students explore the concept of slavery and manumission through a variety of activities. In this civil rights lesson, students gather information from primary sources, then analyze the politics and historical context of the time....
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The Underground Railroad
Students examine slavery and the civil war by creating a research project. In this underground railroad lesson, students create a KWL chart and decide on one of several creative projects they will complete about slavery....
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Comprehension Questions for Stitching Stars
In this comprehension questions for Stitching Stars worksheet, students answer 30 comprehension questions after reading the book about quilts made by slaves in the 17-19th centuries.
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Political Cartoon Exit Slip
In this political cartoon worksheet, students analyze that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1863. Students respond to 2 short answer questions regarding the cartoon.
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A Wolf by the Ear
Students examine Thomas Jefferson's view of slavery. In this slavery lesson, students watch segments of the video "Slavery and the Making of America." Students respond to discussion questions as they watch the video and make inferences...
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Slavery in America at the Time of the Civil War: Navigating a Website
Young scholars discover how to navigate websites. In this Civil War lesson plan, students conduct research on slavery as they visit a website to experience oral, written, and digital texts and performances by slaves from the Civil War era.