Learning Activity

Alabama and the Civil War- Part Two

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

Overview

In this activity, students will expand on their Civil War background to research different concepts, people, places, and materials of the Civil War. The students will use a guide to help them research one item per letter of the alphabet related to the Civil War.

This resource was created in partnership with Dothan City Schools.

Content Standards

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.8
Explain Alabama’s economic and military role during the Civil War.

Unpacked Content

Vocabulary

textiles
munitions
armament
casualties
infrastructure
economics

Knowledge

Students know:

Alabama made important economic contributions to the Civil War including production of iron products, munitions, textiles, and ships.
Alabama made important military contributions to the Civil War including provision of military supplies through the Port of Mobile and provision of an armament center at Selma.
Women made significant contributions to the war on the home front and on the battlefield.
There were several important military leaders of the Civil War.
The destruction of the transportation infrastructure, and high casualty rates during the Civil War caused Alabama's economic structure to collapse.

Skills

Students are able to:

Analyze the significance of Alabama's economic and military role during the Civil War including the production of iron products, munitions, textiles, and ships, providing military supplies through the Port of Mobile, and providing an armament center at Selma.
Recognizing military leaders from Alabama during the Civil War.
Compare and contrast the roles of women on the home front and the battlefront during and after the Civil War.
Analyze how the collapse of the economic structure, destruction of the transportation infrastructure, and high casualty rates impacted Alabama's economic condition after the Civil War.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Alabama played a significant role in the South's effort during the Civil War.
The war caused catastrophic destruction in the South which devastated Alabama's economy.

Interdisciplinary Connections

Phase

During/Explore/Explain

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the activity, students will be able to share different concepts, people, places, and events of the Civil War. Students will have researched at least 26 different ideas about the Civil War and created an alphabet book (or slides) on different topics of the Civil War. Examples of such:

Concepts- Calvery, Corps, Three-Fifths Compromise, Missouri Compromise

People- General Robert E. Lee, President Abraham Lincoln, President Jefferson Davis, General Ulysses S. Grant, Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman

Places- Battle of Mobile, Gettysburg, Appomattox Courthouse, Montgomery

Events- Succession of Alabama, Battle of Gettysburg, the blockade of Mobile Port, Fort Sumter

Activity Details

1) Students will be given a list of different topics of the Civil War (already in alphabetical order). Students will need to have time to properly research different topics in class.

2) Students will need to pick one item related to the Civil War (place, event, person, or concept) and create a page or a slide for each letter of the alphabet. Students will need to be explicitly taught that copying and pasting information is illegal. Students will need to be shown how to take information and turn it into their own words.

3) Students will need to use their digital devices at school to conduct their research. If no devices are available, they can use printed materials prepared ahead of time.

4) For each letter of the Alphabet, the student will list the word (for example- A is for Artillery), write one sentence summarizing the word (for example- Artillery refers to the weapons used by a group during a war), and a picture related to the word.

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will informally assess each student's understanding of the different concepts of the Civil War through monitoring research and their Civil War books/slides. The teacher will help guide the student's research, making sure they are finding appropriate information related to the Civil War.

Teachers will need to assess that each student picked a topic for each letter of the alphabet related to the Civil War, includes a brief yet accurate description of the topic, and includes a related photo of the topic.

Acceleration and Intervention

Acceleration

~Expansion: Early finishers can add additional images or information to further explain their topics.

Intervention

~Intervention: Tier II students can research a reduced number of topics.

Variation Tips

~Students may make their Civil War books on Google Slides, Powerpoint, or on paper.

Approximate Duration

Total Duration

31 to 45 Minutes

Related Learning Activities

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

~Each student will need a copy of the list of Civil War Topics (please see the link above).

~Students will need access to their digital devices (if allowable), or have access to printed material related to the Civil War. This activity is best used with students who have access to digital devices.

Digital Tools / Resources

Civil War ABC Book Document

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Faj_8nGoTsVWUfKZU5lsg1-QSAgj0RGDAF2gF_t_PbU…

Approved Date

2023-01-17

Author

Owner (Author)

meahenderson

Learning Resource Type