Curated OER
Literature Study of the Civil War Era
Learn more about the Civil War. Young scholars will choose a novel based on the Civil War to learn more about the viewpoints of that time period. They will then discuss the roles of the members of a Literature Circle and then participate...
Curated OER
Palms and Literature
Students read and analyze the Civil War novel, 'Charley Skedaddle.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a story map, create a concept web for a character, and take vocabulary tests.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Race and Identity in Antebellum America
This unit features authors of Antebellum America and how they portray the American identity through their literature. Click on the tabs to explore the various resources available to enhance this unit.
Swiss Educ
Swiss Educ: "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
This rich site offers information about the setting, military terms, and an audio file of the story being read along with a wealth of other information.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: Literature of the American Civil War
Learning module uses primary resources to take a look at the literature published during the Civil War and examines how it helped make sense of the war and the profound changes brought about.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: Slavery, Civil War, and the "New Birth of Freedom"
Newberry Library presents primary source materials from which students learn about the arguments made for abolition before the Civil War, how the appeals against slavery were framed, and what freedom would mean for the South and the...
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Abolitionist author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, rose to fame in 1851 with the publication of her best-selling book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which highlighted the evils of slavery.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Courage
In this lesson plan, young scholars will consider "The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Courage." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
University of Pennsylvania
University of Penn: Hospital Sketches by l.m. Alcott
Well-known writer Louisa May Alcott published her experiences as a hospital nurse in Boston in 1863. The complete text is offered here, but no accompanying commentary or interpretation.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Literature of the u.s. Civil War
This very thorough unit plan focuses on the literature of the Civil War for 4th and 5th graders. It includes both a student and teacher bibliography.
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: Authors: Joseph A. Altsheler
This site features the author Joseph A. Altsheler including the full text of 17 novels focusing on the Civil War.
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
This is an online study guide/notes for the novel Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
University of Michigan
Making of America: War Lyrics and Other Poems
The University of Michigan offers the full text of "War-lyrics and Other Poems," which was written by a Union sailor and dedicated to former commander, Vice-Admiral David G. Farragut. Users are able to read the text in its entirety, or...
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Civil War in Children's Literature
This page from Carol Hurst's Children's Literature offers book reviews and planning help for an upper elementary unit on the Civil War. Includes information on books for teachers, books for students, easy-purchase links, and links to...
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
This is an online study guide/notes for the novel Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
Other
Cartania: Civil War Reflections 1862 1865
Harvey Hogue's adventures as a Union soldier in a Confederate prison camp, and his escape from the notorious Andersonville make interesting reading. Not exactly a primary source document, but stories from an actual participant in the...
Other
The 7th Kansas Cavalry in the Civil War
Fletcher Pomeroy was a cavalryman and quartermaster sergeant in the 7th Kanasas. This portion of his daily diary is transcribed here by his descendants.