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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854: Popular Sovereignty and the Political Polarization over Slavery

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Why did Stephen Douglas support the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854? Why did Abraham Lincoln oppose it? Young historians examine how the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 affected the political balance between free and slave states and explore how...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Active Viewing: Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Young historians consider the cause and effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. They use handouts, response sheets, and class discussion to build an opinion about the subject after viewing the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln:...
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Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Pre-1861: Disunion

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Nat Turner, John Brown, and Abraham Lincoln all played a key role in the run-up to the bloody American Civil War. Using a PowerPoint, timeline activity, and essay prompt, young historians consider the roles of these men and more to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children's Attitudes about Slavery and Women's Abolitionism as Seen through Antislavery Fairs

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students examine attitudes of children from the North growing up during the time of slavery. Using documents, they discover how abolitionists tried to change people's ideas of using slaves. They explore how women used antislavery fairs...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Nation Divided: Why Couldn't They Just Get Along?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine both perspectives of the Civil War as related to the differing economies. In this nation divided lesson, 4th graders view primary sources, examine paper money and a political chart, and review recruitment posters. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freedmen's Bureau

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the African American experience after they received their freedom after the Civil War. They complete a Mind Map, read and analyze a poem, and write a paragraph using key vocabulary words. They analyze the impact of the...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Newscast on the Battles of the Ironclad Ships

For Teachers 5th Standards
Fifth graders create multi-media newscasts based on their knowledge of Civil War battles of the ironclad ships.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Before Brother Fought Brother: People and Places in the North and South

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners use census records to research and compare the population and economies in two counties within the same valley (Franklin Country Pennsylvania (North) and Augusta County, Virginia (South) in the pre Civil War era.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sectionalism, Popular Sovereignty and Secession

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars read and discuss background material on several key decisions that played a role in the Civil War including the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dredd Scott Decision. They create a timeline and write an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Nation Divided

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in various activities related to the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson students understand the events and feelings of people during the Civil War by studying primary sources, journal writing, readings, viewing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln, the 1860 Election, and the Future of the American Union and Slavery

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Abraham Lincoln's political views about slavery. In this American Civil War lesson, students determine how Lincoln's beliefs led to the restriction of slavery in American territories. Student also analyze the party...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sectionalism

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine sectionalism. In this sectionalism activity, students explore reasons sectionalism developed. Students realize the conflicts that led to the Civil War and how sectionalism affected citizens on the border of Kansas and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete a short unit on slavery and the U.S. Civil War. They read and analyze the book, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," compose their own secret song, complete an Abraham Lincoln crossword puzzle, and dramatize a historical...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad- People Get Ready...There's a Train a Comin'

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Civil War and slavery lesson, students discuss how successful slaves would be moving around at night, learn the secret vocabulary used for escape routes and review background about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and Abolition: Three Unforgettable Names

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research the people and events involved in the abolitionist movement prior to the U.S. Civil War. They read about and discuss the roles of Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and John Brown. Students complete a word splash, Venn...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking for Lincoln's Views on Slavery

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students reflect on Abraham Lincoln's views of slavery.  In this United States History lesson, students analyze how things have changed in the United States over the course of their lifetime, then use this information as a comparison to...
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Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Fort Sumter

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The headlines screamed what everyone knew was coming: War! While Fort Sumter was considered the first battle of the Civil War, the engagement played differently in newspapers at the time. Using coverage from Northern and Southern...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Southern Society during the Civil War: Black Society

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and discuss the societal changes during the Civil War as it relates to various parts of southern society. In this southern society during the civil war lesson, students examine what life was like for slaves during the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Call and Response Singing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate call and response singing.  In this fine arts and U.S. history lesson, students listen to several call and response songs that were sung by African-American slaves during the period before the Civil War.  Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery issue and view North versus South around 1850s

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students critique actions based on information from both sides of the argument. They analyze impact of slavery on both sides. Students recognize governmental attempts at pacifying the situation. They examine sources and critique them and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln: The Constitution & the Civil War

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students analyze the political and constitutional issues that Lincoln dealt with during his time in the White House as they play an online game and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Discuss the history of slavery by analyzing historic photography depicting slavery. Learners write fictional stories based on these photographs. This is a creative and motivating way to launch a discussion of these topics. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln, the 1860 Election, and the Future of the American Union and Slavery

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the political alternatives regarding the spread of slavery and the preservation of the American union facing the American people in the decade leading up to the 1860 presidential election.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery In America During the Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students continue their examination of the Civil War. In groups, they use the internet and print sources to research the life of a slave. For each slave researched, they copy quotes and other information from primary and secondary...

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