The War Between the States

The War Between the States
An Internet Hotlist on The Civil War

created by Gina Morrison
Grand Prairie ISD

Introduction | Lessons, Activities, and Teacher Resources | A Soldier's Life | A Slave's Life | General Information and Resources

Introduction
I've listed some of the best sites I've found for teaching the Civil War for 5th grade students. Please be sure you read the legal notices and copyright information carefully, especially if you are using pictures. Be sure to cite all sources as accurately and completely as possible.

The Internet Resources

Lessons, Activities, and Teacher Resources

Civil War Preservation Trust - This site is a great resource for finding information. It has links to primary source documents, biographies, children's books, lesson plans and more.
Education World - Lesson plans and a variety of activities for teaching about this period in our nation's history.
The Civil War - Very well-laid out site. The site is broken down according to topics (Compromise of 1850, Abolitionists, etc.). You can view reading lessons, activities, and quizzes for each to use with your class.

A Soldier's Life

A Soldier's Diary - This site explores the memoirs, diary, and life of Private Jefferson Moses of the 93rd Infantry of the Illinois Volunteers. There are some photos and admittedly there is a lot of reading. The diary is not as wordy as it is broken down into days. But it is a good source of information on what it was like to be a soldier.
Camp Life - From the Gettysburg National Memorial Park, read and look at photos of soldiers' artifacts from the Civil War. This site provides a good description of what life was like for a soldier. Photos of artifacts such as their tents, clothing, etc.

A Slave's Life

Encyclopaedia of Slavery - Scroll down to access the information on this page. Students can click on the names of slaves and read first-hand accounts of what it was like to be a slave. Lots of information about the slave trade, slave life, abolitionists, and key events from this period. Very extensive resource.
The Underground Railroad - From National Geographic, this interactive trip on the Underground Railroad asks you to imagine you are a slave making this journey. There are even points along the way where you can make a choice regarding which path to take. I highly recommend this site for your students. Teachers, be sure to explore the items in the pulldown menu at the top. You will find a time line and information designed specifically for kids.

General Information and Resources

Civil War Photographs - This a Library of Congress site and is part of the American Memory. Lots of photographs and an illustrated timeline. Please read the Legal Notices before you use any of the photographs.,
Emancipation Proclamation - From the National Archives - photos of the document itself along with an a transcription of the document as well.
U.S. Civil War 1861-1865 - I like the way this site is designed. It is set up in a timeline fashion detailing key events. The photos are thumbnails, so you can click on them for a larger image.

Content by Gina Morrison, gina.morrison@gpisd.org
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listthecivigi1.html
Last revised Fri Sep 11 13:17:42 US/Pacific 2009