Summary
In this lesson, students examine the strategies used by the Union and Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War. Students first use their prior knowledge of the Civil War era to identify similarities and differences between the Union and Confederacy. Next, students will work together to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and Confederacy. Students will then read and annotate an article discussing key strategies used by both sides to accomplish their military and political goals during the Civil War. To extend their learning, students will create a trifold to showcase their understanding of the key strategies that shaped the outcome of this conflict. Finally, students will conclude the lesson by discussing the essential question with a partner before constructing their own individual written response to demonstrate what they have learned.
Essential Question(s)
What were the key strengths and weaknesses of the Union and the Confederacy during the American Civil War? How did those strengths and weaknesses shape the strategies each side used?
Learning Objectives
Compare the key strengths and weaknesses of the Union and the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
Explain how the military strategies used by both sides affected the outcome of the war.
Snapshot
Engage
Students begin by identifying similarities and differences between the Union and Confederacy.
Explore
Students work together in small groups to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and Confederacy.
Explain
Students read and annotate an article overviewing key strategies used by both sides to accomplish their goals during the Civil War.
Extend
Students create a trifold that shows their understanding of the key strategies that shaped the outcome of the conflict.
Evaluate
Students discuss the essential question with a partner before writing an individual response that demonstrates what they have learned.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Double Bubble Map (attached; one per pair)
Card Sort Cards (attached; one per group)
Civil War Strategy article (attached; one per student)
Trifold (attached; one per student)
Notebook paper
Pencils or pens
Preparation
Print enough copies of the attached Card Sort Cards for each group of 2–3 students. Cut out the cards, and place one full set of cards in a bag for each group. This activity will be used during the Explore phase.
Engage
15 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide your lesson. Display slide 2 to introduce your lesson. Move through slides 3–4 to review the essential questions and learning objectives with students.
Transition to slide 5 and organize students into pairs. Distribute the attached Double Bubble Map to each pair. Explain that students should work together to record what they already know about the Union and the Confederacy. Direct students to write differences in the outside circles and similarities in the middle circles.
Encourage students to take a few minutes to discuss with their partner and complete their handout. Once all students are done, ask pairs to share some of their responses with the class. Make sure to acknowledge their responses and provide follow-up comments.
Explore
15 Minute(s)
Display slide 6 and divide students up into groups of 2–3 students. Pass out the attached Card Sort Cards to each group. Review the Card Sort instructional strategy with students. Explain to them that they will be working as a group to organize the cards under one of the category cards: Union Strengths, Union Weaknesses, Confederacy Strengths, Confederacy Weaknesses. Give students about 10 minutes to organize their cards.
Once groups have completed their card sort, ask members from different groups to share their answers and reasoning for the placement of their cards.
Explain
25 Minute(s)
Display slide 7 and pass out the attached Civil War Strategy article and a highlighter to each student. Review the Why-Lighting instructional strategy with students. Explain to students that they will read the article individually and as they read, they should highlight any part of the text that helps them answer the following questions:
“What strengths and weaknesses did the Union and Confederacy have?”
“How did those strengths and weaknesses influence the strategies both sides used?”
Move to slide 8 and ask students to reflect with the person next to them and discuss the information they highlighted and how it answers the prompts.
Extend
20 Minute(s)
Move to slide 9 and pass out the attached Trifold handout to each student. Thinking back on what they have learned so far, tell students that they will choose one strategy or tactic used by the Union or the Confederacy that they believe was one of the most effective.
Review the trifold handout and each of the questions on it with students. Tell them that each section of their trifold should include the following:
2–3 drawings or symbols that relate to the questions asked
2–4 sentences as a response to the questions asked
Encourage students to make this trifold look like a brochure that is colorful and engaging. Others should be able to review their trifold and know the most important details about the strategy or tactic. Pass out markers and any other materials students may need to create their trifold. Allow students time to work individually.
Once students have completed their trifold, move to slide 10 and have students move into pairs. Tell students to spend a few minutes showing their partner their trifold and discussing the following prompt:
“Explain the decisions you made regarding what to include in the brochure. Why do you feel these things were most relevant?”
Evaluate
10 Minute(s)
Display slide 11 and review the Friends Without Pens instructional strategy.
Tell students to find a partner. Play the 4-minute timer and ask students to spend that time discussing the following prompt:
“In what ways did the strengths and weaknesses of the Union and Confederacy influence their military strategies?”
Once time is up, ask students to take out a piece of notebook paper. Play the 4-minute timer again and instruct students to write down their own response to the same prompt.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Card Sort. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/147
K20 Center. (n.d.). Double bubble map. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/3035
K20 Center. (n.d.). Friends Without Pens. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/4438
K20 Center. (n.d.). Why-lighting. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/128
K20 Center. (2021, September 21). 4-Minute Timer [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpCsfuvzQeY
Rafuse, E. S. (Ed.). (2005). The American Civil War. Ashgate.