Civil War

6th Grade English/Language Arts

Grade Level/Subject:
Standards Targeted:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.7
Integrate information presented in different media formats (e.g.,
visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a
coherent understanding of a topic or issue

Goal Statement:

Why is it important for students to learn this? The goal of

this lesson is to allow students to learn about an important
topic in Americas history, form a variety of different
sources. When students are exposed to a topic being
presented in different media formats, they are more likely
to develop a coherent understanding of the topic. The
different formats of information on the Civil War presented
will also expose students literacy experiences beyond a
textbook.

Objectives:

The Learner Will:

Analyze different presentation formats on a single

topic
Discuss how reading can be connected to their lives
outside of the classroom
Make meaningful connections on a topic that is
presented in various media formats
Understand the impact the Civil War had on their
lives today.

Multimodal Text/Resource:

Materials Needed:

Civil War WebQuest link:

http://www.civilwarvirtualmuseum.org/1861-1862/
History.com Civil War 150 an interactive website for
kids on the Civil War link:
http://www.history.com/interactives/civil-war150#/home
Civil War Cartoon: The UnCivil War Histeria YouTube
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=7ZajcXw3aho
Materials are listed:

Readworks account for reading passages

http://www.readworks.org/passages/civil-warrecruiting-poster-1863-2

http://www.readworks.org/passages/monument-peace

Access to Computer lab or laptops with the internet

and Adobe Reader
Civil War WebQuest Chart (This can be done on large
Chart Paper)
Semantic Web Graphic Organizer
Notebooks for Journal Writing
Pens, Pencils, Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils
KWL Chart Graphic Organizer

Lesson Outline:
Introduction: This weeks unit will be on the Civil War, can anyone tell
me about what the Civil War was in Americas history?
Procedures:
Part 1
1) Activate students prior knowledge by passing out the KWL chart.
Give students 10 minutes to complete the KWL chart on the Civil
War. Inform students that even though this is not Social Studies
class, we can still connect Social Studies topics in reading.
2) Play the UnCivil War Cartoon to get students excited about
learning about the Civil War.
3) Have students write a one paragraph review of the cartoon. Have
them explain what they found interesting, funny or disliked about
what they said.
4) Pass out the ReadWorks passage A Monument for Peace and the
Two Civil War Posters that are included as a Text Set.
5) Read Aloud A Monument for Peace
6) Place students in groups of two and allow them to analyze the Civil
War Posters. Students should discuss what the can infer about the
Civil War based off of the two posters. If possible, provide colored
copies of the Civil War Posters it would be more effective.
7) Once students have discussed their thoughts on the poster, bring
the class together for a discussion over how the posters, and
reading passages connect with the Civil War cartoon they watched.
8) To end the day, students can complete the Reading Comprehension
questions from the reading passage A Memorable Monument
paired with the two Civil War posters
Part 2
9) Part 2 of this lesson will be a WebQuest on the Civil War. Students
will take a virtual field trip to a Civil War Museum provided by
History.com

10) Place students in groups of two and Pass out the Civil War
WebQuest Chart
11) Students will need to visit the link for the Civil War interactive
virtual museum at
http://www.history.com/interactives/civil-war-150#/home
12) When students have entered the site, they will need to choose
five topics that they would like to explore.
13) As students are exploring, they should also be completing the
chart that requires them to identify 3 objects that theyve found in
each category, and then write about its significance to the war.
14) When students have finished, they can share what theyve
learned to their classmates. This can be done jigsaw style where
students teach their classmates about different topics on the Civil
War. You can also have students draw pictures of the objects they
researched and create a classroom museum of what theyve learned
from the WebQuest as well.
Part 3
15) The final activity for this lesson is for students to put everything
together that theyve learned
16) Students will integrate all of the information they have learned
on the Civil War, and complete a Semantic Web to demonstrate
coherent understanding of the Civil War.
17) Pass Out the Semantic Web Graphic Organizer. Students will then
complete the web by writing 3 important details theyve learned
about the Civil War from each of the presentations. (Cartoon,
WebQuest, Posters, Reading Passage)
18) Students can share their Semantic Webs with their classmates
upon completion.
19) Be sure to revisit the KWL charts so that students can finish the
last column, which shows what theyve learned about the Civil War.
Differentiation/Modifications:
Students who may struggle can be placed in groups with
students be placed in heterogeneous groups with students who
excel. Also, Students with IEP/504 accommodations will work
closely in groups with the Intervention Specialist. Differentiation
is the basis of this lesson. Students will be exposed to the Civil
War visually with the cartoon, as well as written with the reading
passages. They will also have interactive hands on experiences
with their WebQuest.

Assessment:

This is a performance task, and students will be assessed on

their Semantic Web. They should be able to demonstrate
understanding of the Civil War from all of the sources provided.
Students will also be assessed on the comprehension of the
reading passage.

Extensions:

An extension to this lesson can be a writing activity:

Part 3:
Students can write an Expository Essay on the Civil War. Students
will need to examine the topic of the Civil War and convey ideas,
concepts and information using the resources provided in this
lesson. They will need to organize their wiring, use relevant facts,
definitions and quotations, transitions and maintain a formal
style while informing their audience on the topic of the Civil War.