As educators, it is our responsibility to make history come alive for our students. By employing a variety of teaching strategies and resources, we can help them develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the past. In this blog post, I will share my experience teaching the Civil War to my students, highlighting the activities and projects that proved most effective in engaging them and fostering their learning.
Monday – Assessment (I can’t share the EMC2Learning templates – sorry)
Tuesday – Start of the Civil War
Monday
To assess my students’ understanding of the Civil War and the events leading up to it, I provided them with three assessment options on Monday: a Story Dice template, a Video Game template, and a Sketch and Tell-o Connect activity. These diverse assessment methods allowed students to demonstrate their knowledge in creative and engaging ways, catering to different learning styles and preferences.
The Story Dice template required students to select nine images that represented or symbolized the events and factors contributing to the growing tensions over slavery. They then wrote a paragraph explaining how these events and factors led to the Civil War, incorporating the selected images.
The Video Game template challenged students to create a game proposal that included at least four of the events or factors studied. They had to explain how each event or factor was represented in the game and discuss the educational value of their proposed game.
Lastly, the Sketch and Tell-o Connect activity asked students to create six sketches representing the events leading up to the Civil War. They then made connections by creating a claim, evidence, and reasoning for the question, “What series of disagreements and deals made between the Northern and Southern states finally caused the Civil War?”
Tuesday
Following the summative assessment, I utilized a combination of resources and activities to introduce the Civil War. On Tuesday, I had my students complete a Frayer Model activity, where they collected information about the Union and Confederate armies, including the states involved, colors worn, and other characteristics. This activity helped them organize their knowledge and understand the opposing forces.
I also had my students watch an EdPuzzle video on the start of the Civil War. The video provided a concise yet informative overview of the key events, battles, and leaders, allowing students to visualize the important aspects of the war. The EdPuzzle platform enabled me to embed questions throughout the video, ensuring active engagement and comprehension.
Thursday
On Thursday, I embarked on an exciting project that connected our classroom learning with local history. Near our school grounds lies the Watkins Hill Cemetery, which houses the graves of several Civil War veterans. I instructed my students to research and document the names of these veterans, along with the companies and regiments in which they served.
To make the most of this opportunity, I took my students on a field trip to the cemetery. They had the chance to explore, locate the graves, and gain firsthand knowledge about the individuals who played a significant role in our nation’s history. This hands-on experience brought history to life and fostered a deep connection with the past.
Building upon this experience, I introduced my students to Fold3, a comprehensive military veteran database. Using a Google Slidedeck containing EduProtocols, students organized their research findings and delved deeper into the stories of the Civil War veterans. They analyzed numerical data points, researched specific battles, and pieced together the historical context in which their chosen veterans lived.
Conclusion
By employing a multifaceted approach to teaching the Civil War, I was able to engage my students and help them develop a profound understanding of this pivotal moment in history. The combination of creative summative assessments, introductory activities, and hands-on exploration of local history created a comprehensive and meaningful learning experience.
I encourage fellow educators to explore opportunities within their communities to connect history with local landmarks. By immersing students in the stories of the past, we can ignite their curiosity, foster a love for learning, and help them appreciate the sacrifices made by those who came before us.
Moler's Musings 