Introduction
The Civil War
Description: Seventh grade students are covering a unit on The Civil War. The students be able to understand how the war began and how the war ends as well as some important events throughout the war. Students will have the opportunity to learn how this war changed our country and how it changed the world. This unit will take five days to complete.
Grade Level: Seven
Curriculum: Social Studies
Vocabulary: amendment, slavery, Gettysburg, Ulysses S. Grant, confederate, Appomattox Courthouse
This assignment is worth 200 points. Each assignment is listed as to how many points are available for the assignment. For the final assignment, please review the rubic under the evaluation tab.
Task
At one point in time our country was divided. The United States as we know it to be today has not always been united. The Civil War began is 1861 and it was a war that had a huge impact on the way our country runs today. During this unit we will touch on different areas and events that were important in this war. By the end of the week you should understand important dates, important people, and the reason the Civil War began. You will use the internet for this lesson so that you can access information that will assist you in learning about this important time in history.
For this unit you will need Internet access, your journals, and USB/thumb drive.
Process
1. Monday - American History
Watch a video on the Civil War. The video is on YouTube.com. Take notes as you watch the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9B_1dGS7Y&list=PL60E5D8E583B7D45A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqyp7iDAVP4&list=PL60E5D8E583B7D45A&ind…
You will use the Internet to go to the following website and follow the steps below:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/civil-war/answer…
Website Title: Civil War Photographs: What do you see?
Under the first picture click on "Student."
Look for questions that will help you write a short story as if you were a solider in the picture. In your journal, you will answer two questions from each picture. Be sure to write the questions along with your answers. You can answer more questions if necessary.
Pretend you are a solider in the picture. On a Word document, type a letter to a loved one explaining what is going on in the picture as it pertains to the war. Save this information on your USB.
2. Tuesday - World History
Read the article How America's Civil War Changed the World.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704101604576249612177206884.
In your journal, give your opinion of one of the hypothetical questions that is asked in the article. Each answer must be at least five sentences long. When you are finished, transfer your answer to a Word document. Save the information on your USB.
3. Wednesday - Civics/Government
There are several important people you should recognize from the Civil War. Research the biographies on two people from the Union side and two people from the Confederate side and identify major points about their lives or what they have done for the war and our country. Utlize the website civilwar.org. The following are people you cannot use in this assignment.
Abraham Lincoln
Robert E. Lee
Ulysses S. Grant
Complete the crossword puzzle
http://www.civilwar.org/education/contests-quizzes/crossword-puzzles/th…
4. Thursday - Geography
Using the Internet go to https://maps.google.com/
Type in the city name of Gettysburg PA. Google maps will show a map of Gettysburg, PA.
On the lower left corner of the page you will see the "Earth"option. Click on that option. The Google map will show you an actual map of Gettysburg, PA as it is today. Using a blank sheet of plain white paper (no notebook paper). You will draw a map of what you see in Gettysburg. Draw streets, landmarks, houses, etc. Your map should appear as an ariel shot of the city (just as Google shows it.)
On the back of your paper write your name, date, class period. You are also to write three (3) facts about the city today. This information should also be save on your USB.
5.Friday - Economics
By using this website http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lid=615&type=student, describe inflation and how it affects our country. Type this information in a Word document. Also, complete the short five question quiz at the end of the article. The quiz is listed under the assessment activity entitled "How Much do You Kow." Print out your quiz answers and submit it with your paper on how you would describe inflation and how it affects our country.
At the end of this assignment you will print out all of your inforamation from the Civil War. We will spend an entire class period discussing the Civil War. You, the students, will lead the lesson by discussing the events you found interesting. The teacher may ask some of you to present different aspects of your work to the class. Each student will have the opportunity to speak during the class period. You will be graded on how well you influenced the class with information.
Evaluation
Assignment 1 - Monday - American History
Students will be graded on the structure of their letter. Teacher will be looking for grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and if the letter all of the components of a well written letter. Students will also need to ensure they answered two questions from each picture.
This assignment is worth 20 points.
Assignment 2 - Tuesday - World History
Students will be graded on whether or not the students completed the assignment. Students should have at least five sentences in their answer. Points will be deducted if the students do not have a well structured thought in their five sentences.
This assignment is worth 20 points
Assignment 3 - Wednesday - Civics/Government
Teacher will be assessing the answers the students give for each important person in history listed. Students answers should tell about three major points from their life. The students will also need to complete a crossword puzzle.
This assignment is worth 20 points
Assignment 4 - Thursday - Geography
Students will be graded on the creativity of their map. Students will also be graded on the facts they thought were important about Gettysburg, PA.
This assignment is worth 20 points
Assignment 5 - Friday - Economics
Students will be graded on how well they understand inflation. The students will also be graded on the quiz they submitted with the inflation assignment.
This assignment is worth 20 points
At the end of this assignment you will print out all of your inforamation from the Civil War. We will spend an entire class period discussing the Civil War. You, the students, will lead the lesson by discussing the events you found interesting. The teacher may ask some of you to present different aspects of your work to the class. Each student will have the opportunity to speak during the class period. You will be graded on how well you influenced the class with information.
Your discussion is worth 100 points
The entire unit is worth 200 points.
Final Civil War Discussion Grading Rubric
Civil War 7th Grade Discussion
Student _______________________ Period _________________
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3 |
2 |
1 |
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Discussion Of events |
During the class discussion, student discussed three or more events. |
During the class discussion, student discussed two events. |
During the class discussion, the students did not discuss any events. |
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Discussion of People |
During the class discussion, the student discussed three or more people. |
During the class discussion, student discussed two people. |
During the class discussion, student did not discuss any important people |
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Opinions and hypothetical answers. |
During the discussion the student gave hypothetical answers or their opinions about more than one topic. |
During the class discussion the student gave a hypothetical answer or their opinion about one topic. |
During the discussion the student did not give any hypothetical answers or opinions about a topic. |
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Engaged in the conversation |
The student was engaged in the conversation and understands the topics of the Civil War. |
The student was somewhat engaged in the conversation and should study more information on the Civil War. |
The student was not engaged in the conversation. |
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Score |
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Conclusion
You should understand why the Civil War began, the date the war began and the date the war ended. You should also know some key battles that took place during the war. Also make sure you are aware of the difference between the North and the South. You should also understand how the war affected our land and economy and the significance of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
Credits
Research Skills for History
PO 1. Construct charts, graphs, and narratives using historical data.
PO 4. Formulate questions that can be answered by historical study and research.