Lesson Plan

Civil War Newspaper

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

One photograph can represent so much more than the images on the film. Eighth graders select a photograph from the Civil War era and conduct additional research based on the subject matter from the picture. Once they complete the research, they create two pieces of writing: a technical newspaper article and a narrative letter to a loved one from the point of view of someone from the time period.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Use the same process with other periods of history, such as the Great Depression or the Vietnam War
  • If you don't have access to a media center, assign the technical portions of the project for individuals to complete on their home computers or tablets
  • Apply the modifications to smaller groups or classrooms without technology
Classroom Considerations
  • Learners should have word processing and formatting skills
  • Includes a specific grade-based rubric, which you could modify based on curriculum needs
Pros
  • Encourages creative writing, informative writing, and historical research
  • Includes all necessary templates and worksheets for completing the project
  • Strong interdisciplinary connection between social studies and language arts
Cons
  • None
Common Core