Overview
Because your teaching might be remote or in-person or both, we’ve added a description of the remote readiness of each lesson. In many lessons, compelling primary sources from multiple perspectives have been edited for length and combined with an activity, often times a group activity. For remote students, teachers can easily post or email a link to the primary sources and/or the full activity. Students can work together via phone or video conferencing to complete the assignment or do it themselves. When they’re done, they can post the completed assignment to your LMS or email it to you. And in many cases, the very same lesson can be printed and completed in class.
Each box below contains a lesson. The icons at the top of each box tell you if the lesson contains primary sources, secondary sources, research, group work, a writing assignment, maps, videos, or games. The description tells you which free site the lesson comes from, what grades it is intended for, how much class time it will take, and how much reading is required. Click the blue button at the bottom of each box for more information and the ability to bookmark the lesson to your profile.
Lessons on this page are about the Civil War and Reconstruction. We have divided the Activities into 3 categories and several subcategories. And at the bottom of every page, you will find OER textbooks and primary source websites.
Slavery
Frederick Douglass's Slave Narrative
Frederick Douglass Autobiography and Class Bonding Activity
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom
Our summary: Students read 3.5 pages of Frederick Douglass's autobiography and then describe a time in their own lives where they resisted authority. This might allow for some class sharing and bonding.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8A
Frederick Douglass Autobiography Close Readings
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Frederick Douglass's "Narrative:" Myth of the Happy Slave
Our summary: Over 2 activities (and in 2 worksheets), students do close readings of 6 short (1/2 page each) passages from Douglass's autobiography. They answer questions. Students can write an essay about Douglass's rhetoric; a rhetoric definition sheet and rubric is included.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8B
Slavery Via Frederick Douglass's Autobiography
From: Teaching American History
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 4-5 Class Periods for All
Activities
Length of Reading: Chapter
For full lesson, click here:
Slavery Through the Eyes of a Slave
Our summary: What does Frederick Douglass's autobiography tell us about slavery? Four lessons are available here: (1) discussing what students already know, (2) reading 1 of 2 chapters from Douglass's autobiography, (3) comparing it to student's background knowledge, and (4) writing an article about the terrors of slavery.
8C
The Push for Freedom
Interactive Game About Slavery
From: PBS, Mission US
Grade Level: MS, HS,
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1-2 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
Flight to Freedom
Fave! Our summary: Student players become Lucy, a 14 year old slave who attempts to escape her plantation in Kentucky 1848-1850 in this beautifully animated interactive game. Students choose what to say and where to go from available options. There are 5 parts and an epiloge to the game. If students make it to freedom, and they may not, the game lasts between 1 and 2 hours. Completed parts of the game will be saved for your students if they are logged in.
8D
Slave Resistance
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: MS, HS,
Remote Ready: With Modifications for Activities 3-5
Time: 4-5 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Chapter
For full lesson, click here:
Poetry of Defiance:
How the Enslaved Resisted
Our summary: In 5 separate activities, students (1) share quotes from slaves; (2) write poems about resisting slavery in groups; (3) read a poem; and (4) create a T-Chart about slave resistance and how owners attempted to crush resistance. Finally (5), you have the option to assign a chapter from Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.
8E
Abolitionists
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: (MS), HS,
Remote Ready: With Modifications for Part 2
Time: 1-2 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Who Fought to End Slavery?
Our summary: Meet the Abolitionists. This lesson comes in 2 parts. The first is a role-playing activity where each student is an abolitionist, and the second is "talk-back" journaling exercise based on an 8 page reading on the Abolition Movement.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8F
John Brown
From: Digital History
Grade Level: (HS), College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends Upon Chosen Lesson Plan
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
John Brown: Hero or Terrorist
Our summary: Students read right-sized docs by John Brown and docs about John Brown in an attempt to answer fundamental questions about John Brown, his raid, and slavery. There are several lesson plans available to choose from under the "Teacher Resources" tab. Options include analyzing different accounts of John Brown's raid and completing a Venn Diagram, debating John Brown's sanity, analyzing the song "John Brown's Body," and re-enacting the trials of John Brown and his associates. A few links no longer work, but there are workarounds and ample additional resources.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8G
Slavery
From: Teaching Tolerance, Teaching Hard History
Grade Level: MS, HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends Upon Lesson
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Teaching Hard History Framework
Our summary: After clicking on the link above, scroll to the "The Sectional Crisis and Civil War (1848-1877)" Heading. And then choose the Summary Objective that most interest you. You will be linked to a short list of wonderful online resources and their descriptions. We do not recommend clicking on the red "DOWNLOAD THE 6-12 FRAMEWORK" icon; while the same resources are showcased, the links are broken.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8H
Slavery's Critics
and Defenders
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 4-5 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
A House Dividing,
Lesson 2:
Slavery's Opponents
and Defenders
Our summary: 3 Activities. Students examine secondary and primary sources concerning slavery's critics and defenders, including Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and John C. Calhoun, among others. They answer questions and discuss in groups.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8I
Pro- and Anti-Slavery Arguments
From: Exploring US History
Grade Level: (HS), College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
The Debate Over Slavery
Our summary: 5 short pro-slavery primary sources and 4 short anti-slavery primary sources available here (each about a page long). The assignment asks students to come prepared to debate the historical rationale for and against slavery. Anti-textbook suggests teachers might also have students read the docs and create a T-chart or fill out a Document Analysis Worksheets. Or each group could be assigned a few docs; then groups can jigsaw to explain their docs to each other.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8J
Spiritual Song Lyrics
From: Digital History
Grade Level: (HS), College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Spirituals
Our summary: No dedicated activity here but several very interesting resources. Read Harriet Tubman's song lyrics and answer questions about their coded meanings. Read the story behind Amazing Grace, read the lyrics, and listen to a recording. Read spiritual lyrcis and identify the Biblical references. And check out LOC collections related to Southern music. A few links are broken. And again, you'll have to come up with your own questions or assignment.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8K
Civil War
Lincoln
What Did Lincoln Think About Slavery?
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
A War to Free the Slaves?
Our summary: Students read excerpts from Lincoln's first inaugural address, the original proposed 13th Amendment (which preserved slavery), and the Emancipation Proclamation. Students answer written and discussion questions to address how Lincoln's intention to keep or do away with slavery changed.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8L
Lincoln's Inaugural Addresses
From: Gilder Lehrman
Grade Level: MS, HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses
Our summary: Students first read Lincoln's second inaugural address using a graphic organizer that calls for a close reading. They then move backwards to do a close reading of Lincoln's first address (abridged to 6 pages) in groups. Students complete a second organizer that calls for comparing the two speeches with a partner (graphic organizer is 9 pages, including the text of both speeches).
8M
Gettysburg Address
From: Gilder Lehrman
Grade Level: MS, HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Gilder Lehrman offers 2 lesson plans on the Gettysburg Address. We'll describe them both here.
1) The first one is calledThe Gettysburg Address.
Our summary: Common Core. This lesson plan is subdivided into 5 lessons, but there's no reason that it couldn't be synthesized into one class period. Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Students read the Gettysburg address (1/2 page) and then fill out graphic organizers for each of the 3 paragraphs. In lessons 4 and 5, students analyze how the word "dedicate"--used 6 times in the speech-- changes meaning. Finally, students answer 3 questions.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile2) The second lesson is entitled
The Gettysburg Address: Identifying Text, Context, and Subtext.
Our summary: In this one, students examine the Gettysburg Address with the help of worksheets that lead students through a literary/rhetorical analysis.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8N
1860 Election
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: No
Time: 1-2 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
The Election of 1860 Role Play
Our summary: Role Play. Each of 5 groups is assigned a role: Abraham Lincoln, Western Farmers, Northern Factory Owners and Merchants, Southern Plantation Owners, or Northern Workers. Each role has a one page description group members read. Then each group discusses and answers provided questions about what their group's issues are going into the 1860 election. After some discussion and the introduction of candidates, each group votes for the candidate that most aligns to their wants and needs. After the votes are tallied, the class discusses the outcome in character.
Click the button below for more information.
😯
Kansas-Nebraska Act and Lincoln-Douglas Debates
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 3-4 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
A House Dividing,
Lesson 3:
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
of 1854,
Popular Sovereignty and the Political Polarization Over Slavery
Our summary: Students check out an interactive map, documentary clip, and primary sources. Each comes with a graphic organizer. Then they stage a mock Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8P
Lincoln's Controversial Decisions
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1-2 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Civil War: A "Terrible Swift Sword,"
Lesson 3: Abraham Lincoln and
Wartime Politics
Our Summary: 2 Activities. "In this activity, students will read documents concerning four controversial decisions that Lincoln made during the first term of his presidency: his suspension of habeas corpus, his issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, his refusal to consider a compromise peace with the South, and his decision to arm former slaves. For each of these presidential actions students will read at least one document that supports Lincoln, and at least one that opposes him." In the second activity, students will hold a mock presidential debate for the election of 1864, Lincoln v. George B. McClellan.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8Q
Emancipation Proclamation
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1-2 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
The Emancipation Proclamation: Freedom's First Steps
Our summary: 3 Activities. Students watch 2 short film clips about the Emancipation Proclamation, read several docs, including the Proclamation itself, and answer questions.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8R
Secession
Lincoln's Inaugural vs. South Carolina's Secession Doc
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1-2 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
The Problem of Secession
Fave! Our summary: Three Activities are available here. In the first, half the class reads Lincoln's first inaugural address and the second reads South Carolina's secession document. In the second activity, students explain their doc to 2 new teammates who did not read their doc. The final activity calls for a panel discussion.
8S
Is the Union Binding? Mock Trial
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2-3 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Abraham Lincoln on the American Union:
"A Word Fitly Spoken,"
Lesson 2: The First Inaugural Address (1861)--Defending the American Union
Our summary: Mock Trial. 3 groups: Unionists, Secessionists, and Judges. Question: "Is the Union of American States Permanent and Binding, or Does a State Have the Right to Secede?" Each side reads its own docs and fills in the worksheets. Docs include Lincoln's first inaugural address and South Carolina's secession doc, like the aforementioned lesson. But this lesson includes a couple more docs and worksheets to keep everyone's thoughts organized. Judges read both side's docs.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8T
Secession
Building From the Missouri Compromise and Nullification
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
A House Dividing,
Lesson 1: An Early Threat of Secession:
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Nullification Crisis
Our summary: 3 Activities. Students check out an interactive map of the Missouri Compromise. Then they read the Missouri Compromise. Finally, students read charts, watch an optional documentary, and read South Carolina's reasons for nullifying the Tariff of 1832 and Andrew Jackson's reaction to it. After each of the aforementioned steps, they answer questions.
8U
Secession
From: Digital Public Library of America
Grade Level: (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends Upon Chosen Lesson Plan
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Secession of the Southern States
Our summary: The recommended "Classroom activity" (see heading at the bottom of the page) entails assigning groups to a particular state that seceded from the Union. The groups will analyze that state's secession doc and present on its main ideas as well as major happenings. Then the class discusses. Many state secession docs can be found on The Decision to Seceed site from the AHA.
The secession of the Southern States page also lists 7 "Discussion ideas," each with links to 1 or 2 primary sources. There is also a research and presentation activity. You might use this as a choice board or pick the one(s) you like. You can, for example, compare speeches from Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln. Or you can compare the secession docs of South Carolina and Texas. There are shorter docs as well, a broadside and an lithograph for example.
8V
The People
Bell Ringer:
Students Search the Civil War Database for Their Ancestors
From: National Parks Service
Grade Level: MS, HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 5 min
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
To go directly to the website, click here:
Search for Soldiers
Our summary: Did your ancestors serve in the Civil War? Enter your last name here. If your last name is a common one, the first name of your ancestor will be helpful too.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile8W
New York City
Draft Riots
Mystery
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: No
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
The Draft Riot Mystery
Our summary: Each student is given a clue. There are 30 clues; each clue is 1-3 sentences long. The class is asked to solve the mystery of why the 1863 New York City draft riots occurred based on these clues with minimal teacher intervention.
Afterwards, students answer provided questions and discuss. As an extra option, students can talk or write about being scapegoated for something in their own lives.
You'll need to log-in. Click "Download to Read in Full" two separate times.
8X
Young People and
the Civil War
From: HSI: Historical Scene Investigation
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: Wth Modifications
Time: 2-3 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
Growing-Up Before They had to: Children of the Civil War
Our summary: Students read primary sources by or about young people who served in the war or observed it. They answer questions and complete a Venn Diagram. Then they write a paragraph answering an overarching question.
Note: Use the links in the activity description. These will work if you enable Flash Player. Some links may not work if you view the lesson in PDF.
Lesson Identifier: 8Y
Ads Recruiting Black Soldiers and Laborers
From: Docs Teach
Grade Level: MS,
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
Comparing Civil War Recruitment Posters
Our summary: Students compare a Union ad recruiting black soldiers with a Confederate ad asking slave owners to provide slave laborers.
Students answer 4 questions.
Armed with their teacher's email address, students can write the answers to the provided questions and send them to their teacher within the Docs Teach site. Teachers will have to click through an email link from each student though. So Anti-textbook recommends paraphrasing the questions into your LMS so that written answers are easier to grade.
8Z
Women and the
Civil War
From: Gilder Lehrman
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 5-6 Class Period For All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Women and the Civil War
Our summary: 3 activities here. In each, students are divided into groups. Each group researches an assigned topic via provided links to secondary sources. The first activity deals with women BEFORE the Civil War; groups share what they learned. The second activity deals with women DURING the Civil War; it involves a panel discussion. And the third activity deals with women--you guessed it--AFTER the Civil War; it involves a class discussion.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AA
Article about Robert E. Lee and Lost Cause
From: The Atlantic
Grade Level: (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Pages
For full article, click here:
The Myth of the Kindly General Lee
Our summary: Check out this article from The Atlantic debunking Lee's awesomeness and describing the Lost Cause (3 printed pages). Everyone gets 5 free articles from The Atlantic each month without a subscription.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AB
The Fight
North v. South
(Sizing Them Up)
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Civil War:
A "Terrible Swift Sword"
Lesson 1: On the Eve of War
North vs. South
Fave! Our summary: Divide class into 2 groups: North and South. Each group divides themselves into a military, a diplomatic, and an economic faction. Each subgroup reads their assigned primary source documents (which are excellent and bite-sized) and views their amazing interactive web resources for homework. They fill out revealing charts. The following day, each side works together to make a presentation on their side's strengths and weaknesses.
Note: The first 2 links don't work in the PDF. They do work outside of the PDF in the activity description under the heading "North and South Group #1: The Economic Balance." Just be sure to enable Flash player.
Lesson Identifier: 8AC
Civil War Battles
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2-3 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Civil War:
A "Terrible Swift Sword"
Lesson 2: The Battles of the
Civil War
Our summary: 2 Activities. In the first activity students make travel brochures about Gettysburg or Vicksburg after learning about those battles via a film clip and online secondary source. In Activity 2, students write diary entries as either soldiers or civilians after learning about Sherman's March to the Sea via a film clip and primary sources.
You'll find Lesson 1 of A "Terrible Swift Sword" above or to the left of this lesson. Lesson 3 in the same series is under the Lincoln heading.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AD
Civil War Medicine
From: Gilder Lehrman
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2-3 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Deadly Diseases: A Fate Worse than Dying on the Battlefield
Our summary: Slides are proved for an optional 10 min lecture on Civil War Medicine. Each student group gets a unique set of primary sources on Civil War medicine. Each group creates a poster about their docs and present.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AE
Matthew Brady Photographs
From: Docs Teach
Grade Level: MS
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
The Civil War as Photographed by Mathew Brady
Our summary: Students review a few photos individually and then meet with their group members who have viewed the remaining photos to discuss (there are 15 photos total). Students list adjectives to describe their photos and answer overarching questions.
Armed with their teacher's email address, students can write the answers to the provided questions and send them to their teacher within the Docs Teach site. Teachers will have to click through an email link from each student though. So Anti-textbook recommends paraphrasing the questions into your LMS so that written answers are easier to grade.
We don't normally include extension activities, but we think this one is particularly good. Students are linked to the Mathew Brady collection at the National Archives. They search for documents that are particularly telling of Confederate life.
Lesson Identifier: 8AF
Reconstruction
Freedom
How Free were
Former Slaves
During Reconstruction?
From: Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Grade Level: MS, HS
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Reconstruction SAC (Structured Academic Controversy)
Fave! According to SHEG, "In this structured academic controversy, students examine constitutional amendments, a Black Code, a personal account of a former slave, and other documents to answer the question: 'Were African Americans free during Reconstruction?"
Our summary: Students work in groups of 4. Everybody reads 5 very short docs. Teams of 4 are divided in half with 2 students making the case that African Americans were free during Reconstruction and the other 2 arguing the opposite. Each pair explains their arguments to the other pair. Then students try to reach consensus. Questions and graphic organizers provided.
Lesson Identifier: 8AG
See How the
14th Amendment
is Relevant Today
From: Bunk History
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
"All Persons Born or Naturalized in the United States…"
Our summary: Looking for a way to tie the past to the present? Aren't we all? Bunk History has curated a whole bunch (to use a technical term) of news articles relating to the 14th Amendment. Bunk doesn't recommend an activity for these articles. But we've got some ideas. How about using their site as a choice board? Students can read an article that interests them and write about it or explain it to the class. Or the teacher can choose a handful (to use another technical term) of articles and groups can read these and then jigsaw.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AH
Slave Narratives and Primary Sources on Rights of Freed Slaves
From: Investigating US History
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
The Meaning of Emancipation in the Reconstruction
Our summary: To begin, students look at political cartoons. Then students look at WPA Slave narratives and answer questions. This requires a little bit of searching because the Library of Congress Links have moved and the recording is broken. But we think it's still worthwhile. Next students read 10 primary sources on the debate over the rights of newly freed slaves and answer 3 overarching questions. Finally, students write an editorial assessing Reconstruction.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AI Thomas Nast, Emancipation, 1865
Sharecropping
From: Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Grade Level: MS, HS,
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
Sharecropping
According to SHEG, "In this lesson, students critically evaluate their classroom textbook's account of sharecropping by comparing it to a sharecropping contract from 1882." Teachers must provide sharecropping section from their textbook. Students look at the sharecropper contract in pairs, answer questions, then discuss it as a class.
If your textbook's sharecropping section isn't easily accessible, Anti-textbook recommends this one from Open Stax free online textbook. Just scroll down to the 3rd heading, "Sharecropping."
Here's another sharecropping contract from another source, just in case you'd like to add one: Sharecropping Contract.
Lesson Identifier: 8AJ
Reconstruction
Meet and Greet
From: Zinn Education Project
Grade Level: (MS), HS
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
The Impossible Became Possible, Reconstruction Mixer
Our summary: Role play. Each student gets a half-page description of one of 21 people who fought for African American or women's rights after the Civil War (examples include Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, African American politicians, etc). Students meet and greet each other in character, asking one of 8 provided questions. Added bonus: students practice social skills. Finally the class discusses using provided questions. Click "Download to Read in Full" to get to the PDF instructions (you actually have to do this twice).
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 8AK
Freedmen's Bureau
From: Docsteach.org
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
For full lesson, click here:
How Effective were the Efforts of the Freedmen's Bureau?
Our summary: Students "weigh the evidence." Seven primary sources on the Freedmen's Bureau are available. Students read them and then drag and drop their icons on a scale. One side of the scale is evidence that the Freedmen's Bureau was effective the other side is evidence that the Bureau was not effective. Evidence can be dropped in between the two sides as well. Many of the hand written docs have been transcribed. Be sure to click on "View Document Details," and then click on the orange "Show/Hide Transcript" button near the bottom of the page
Students answer questions. They can email the answers to their teacher directly from the page. We recommend paraphrasing the questions in your LMS. That way teachers won't have to open an email from each student and click through each answer.
Lesson Identifier: 8AL
Reconstruction Plans and General Reconstruction
Battle Over Reconstruction
(Lesson 1)
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Lesson 1:
The Battle Over Reconstruction:
The Aftermath of War
Our summary: There are 2 activities here. The first includes a PBS video on Reconstruction, an interactive map, and primary sources from 4 Southern states for students to analyze in groups. The second activity includes primary sources from those who affected or were effected by Reconstruction policy.
Lesson Identifier: 8AM
Battle Over Reconstruction
(Lesson 2)
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Lesson 2:
The Battle Over Reconstruction:
The Politics of Reconstruction
Our summary:
2 Activities here, both are role playing games. Activity 1 tackles the Reconstruction battle between Lincoln and Radical Republicans. The 2nd Activity gets at Andrew Johnson's battle with Radical Republicans as he heads toward impeachment.
Lesson Identifier: 8AN
Battle Over Reconstruction
(Lesson 3)
From: EDSITEment!
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 3 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Lesson 3:
The Battle Over Reconstruction:
The Aftermath of Reconstruction
Our summary:
Check out these two role playing group activities, complete with primary sources and an interactive map. The activities analyze the effects of Reconstruction.
Lesson Identifier: 8AO
Reconstruction Video Series
From: Facing History and Ourselves
Grade Level: HS
Remote Ready: Videos: Yes!
Activities: With Modifications
Time: Depends Upon Chosen Activities
Length of Reading: Pages if Choose Activities
For full lesson, click here:
The Reconstruction Era Video Series
Our summary:
Watch this documentary video series where the experts walk your students through Reconstruction with the aid of photographs. There are 6 videos. They are 12-16 minutes each.
There are activities to accompany a few of the videos.
Activity for Part 1 in the video series: Students reflect on power structures in their own lives. Then they watch part one in the Reconstruction video series (12 min). They answer questions. Teachers have the option to assign up to 4 primary sources and the class discusses.
Activity for Part 3 in the video series: Students analyze 2 political cartoons and answer provided questions. Then they watch 9 min of streaming video (The Political Struggle, part 3 in the series) and answer provided questions. Next, Students read a loyalty oath created by President Andrew Johnson during Presidential Reconstruction. Teachers can set up a "Big Paper" discussion on this doc (students answer questions and respond to other comments on large pieces of paper). Thereafter, students watch the second part (7 min) of the Reconstruction video; this part is on Radical Reconstruction. And students answer questions. Finally, students read about the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and do another Big Paper Discussion.
Activity for Parts 6 in the video series: Students watch a 13 min video (part 6 in the series) and read a primary source. Students answer questions about each and then discuss what they will do to about race relations moving forward.
Lesson Identifier: 8AP
Reconstruction:
Andrew Johnson vs. Radical Republicans
From: Teaching American History
Grade Level: HS
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2-3 Class Periods for All Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
For full lesson, click here:
Civil Rights, Andrew Johnson, and the Radical Republicans
Our summary:
3 Activities. Students gauge how they would have ordered Reconstruction's priorities. They read The Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Andrew Johnson's veto of it. And they answer questions and discuss.
Lesson Identifier: 8AQ
General
(OER Textbooks and Individual Primary Sources)
OER Textbooks
American Yawp
U.S. History Textbook
From:
American Yawp:
This excellent textbook, which was written and edited by history professors and published by the Stanford University Press, is available online for FREE. It includes a FREE primary source reader, beautiful images, and footnotes (which are always good as an example to show students how to cite their own research). The only issue is that the website is not secure. You do not, however, input any personal information, not even a log on.
Chapter 11: The Cotton Revolution
Chapter 13: The Sectional Crisis
A Massively Collaborative Open
U.S. History Textbook
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Lesson Identifier: 4AA
MI Open Book Project
United States History Textbook
Revolution Through Reconstruction
From: Michigan Open Book Project
This book was created by the Michigan Open Book Project. In Michigan, the entirety of US History is divided across several grades. And there's a different book for each section of the course, intended for a different age group.
The 5th grade edition, United States History:
Beginnings Through Revolution, starts with early American History and goes through the American Revolution.
The 8th grade edition, Revolution Through Reconstruction, Starts with the American Revolution and, obviously, ends with Reconstruction.
The High School edition, Reconstruction to Today ends the trilogy.
Because these books are written by the teachers of the grades they are intended for, the language they use and subjects they broach are age appropriate and concise. The chapters are inquiry based; they start with questions. And there are links to video explanations and subjects of interest within the text. Depending on the apps particular to your device, students may even be able to highlight and take notes on their online or PDF textbook.
Grade Level: MS, HS
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Lesson Identifier: 4AD
Openstax
U.S. History Textbook
From: Openstax
The good people at Rice University, with several charitable organizations, have made this American History Textbook, written by legit history professors, available online for FREE.
Check out the "Instructor Resources" tab. You can access slides, test questions, and even plug the book into your Canvas or Blackboard LMS. Chapter 13: Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860 Chapter 14: Troubled Times: the Tumultuous 1850s Chapter 15: The Civil War 1860-1865 Chapter 16: The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Lesson Identifier: 4AB
Openstax
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
U.S. History Textbook
From: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness and the Bill of Rights Institute
Grade Level: Designed for A.P. US History
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Check out Openstax latest endeavor, in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute. This book is intended for Advanced Placement (A.P.) U.S. History courses. You can elect to incorporate online courseware with the book for an additional per student fee.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4AC
Individual Primary Source Resources
Primary Sources at Teaching American History
Looking for primary sources? We would recommend the above mentioned primary source sets from Stanford History Education Group and Gilder Lehrman. They're pre-edited for length, paired with other relevant primary sources, and many already have activities or questions for students to answer.
But if you need primary sources for another purpose, check out
primary sources from the Teaching American History site. They are sorted first by era and then by category. Plus, each one has an introductory description AND study questions at the end! If you sign up for a free account, you can put documents together to create your own collections.
Lesson Identifier: 4AF
Primary Sources at American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond
Need primary sources? We would recommend the above mentioned primary source sets from Stanford History Education Group and Gilder Lehrman. They're pre-edited for length, paired with other relevant primary sources, and many already have activities or questions for students to answer.
But if you need primary sources for another purpose, check out
primary sources at American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond provided by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Choose the appropriate time frame on the left side of the screen. Primary sources are both relevant and bite-sized.
Lesson Identifier: 4AG
Primary Sources From Digital History
We would recommend the above mentioned primary source sets from Stanford History Education Group and Gilder Lehrman. They're pre-edited for length, paired with other relevant primary sources, and many already have activities or questions for students to answer.
But if you need primary sources for another purpose, check out
the
the Digital History
site from the University of Houston, which includes primary sources (click on "Documents" across the top and the appropriate time period on the left) as well as a textbook, quizzes, music, and a variety of other valuable resources, sorted by era.
Lesson Identifier: 4AH
Top Image: “[Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters].” Library of Congress, 1863-1865, https://lccn.loc.gov/2010647216.