Unit Introduction: 4th Grade Civil War
This unit consists a few lessons in the overall larger unit of teaching the Civil War to a 4th Grade class. The Civil War is a huge portion of the Virginia Standards of Learning in 4th grade. For this reason, this unit consists of a few lessons that would cover this massive standard. This portion of the unit comes towards the beginning of teaching the class about the Civil War. This usually occurs around the third quarter of the school year. Before this, students studied Jamestown and the other aspects of Colonial times, followed by the American Revolution. The students have been introduced to the idea that the Civil War was fought, but they do not yet know why or the details of what happened. After this portion of the unit, will come more details into the battles and other key events that occurred, but this is a start to having the class first gain a basic understanding of the war. This is why the Essential Question will focus on the reason the war occurred. The next step to this unit would be investigating more into why West Virginia became a state, learning about other significant battles, and taking a closer look at the different people that were apart of this war.
Questions
Essential Questions:
Why was the Civil War fought?
Sub-Essentail Questions:
Who fought in the Civil War?
What were the differences between the North and South?
What were some key battles in the Civil War?
Who were key players in the Civil War?
Enduring Understandings:
-The American Civil war was between the North (Union) and the South (Confederates).
-Due to economic differences between the North and South, they were unable to resolve their conflicts, and the South seceded from the United States.
- The Civil War was fought because the North and South had many fundamental differences.
-The differences between the North and the South existed due to their differences in climate, economic structure, and ideologies of society.
-The war was started by a few states deciding to succeed from the Union, and was continued with more states joining them, and the creation of the Confederate States of America.
-The students will understand basic Civil War vocabulary terms, including Union, Confederates, and secession.
Standard of Learning: 4th Grade- VA History
Civil War and Postwar Eras
VS.7 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the issues that divided our nation and led to the Civil War by
a) identifying the events and differences between northern and southern states that divided Virginians and led to secession, war, and the creation of West Virginia;
b) describing Virginia’s role in the war, including identifying major battles that took place in Virginia;
c) describing the roles played by whites, enslaved African Americans, free African Americans, and American Indians.
Why was the Civil War fought?
Sub-Essentail Questions:
Who fought in the Civil War?
What were the differences between the North and South?
What were some key battles in the Civil War?
Who were key players in the Civil War?
Enduring Understandings:
-The American Civil war was between the North (Union) and the South (Confederates).
-Due to economic differences between the North and South, they were unable to resolve their conflicts, and the South seceded from the United States.
- The Civil War was fought because the North and South had many fundamental differences.
-The differences between the North and the South existed due to their differences in climate, economic structure, and ideologies of society.
-The war was started by a few states deciding to succeed from the Union, and was continued with more states joining them, and the creation of the Confederate States of America.
-The students will understand basic Civil War vocabulary terms, including Union, Confederates, and secession.
Standard of Learning: 4th Grade- VA History
Civil War and Postwar Eras
VS.7 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the issues that divided our nation and led to the Civil War by
a) identifying the events and differences between northern and southern states that divided Virginians and led to secession, war, and the creation of West Virginia;
b) describing Virginia’s role in the war, including identifying major battles that took place in Virginia;
c) describing the roles played by whites, enslaved African Americans, free African Americans, and American Indians.