Our Big Country Split

Overview

Grade Level: 1st Grade
Subject: US History
Duration: 35 minutes
Curriculum Area: History, Social Studies
Specific Focus: Introduction to the Civil War
US Education Standards: Aligns with standards on understanding national history and significant events or themes in American culture.

Objectives

• Understand: Recognize that the Civil War was an important event in US history.
• Identify: Learn about the main idea of 'north' and 'south' in this context.
• Engage: Participate in activities to explore feelings and ideas from that time.
• Create: Draw and share artwork or stories based on what they learned.

Materials Needed

• Picture book: "The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities" by Janis Herbert (can be substituted with another child-appropriate book on the Civil War)
• Map of the United States
• Red and blue crayons
• Whiteboard and markers
• Construction paper
• Scissors and glue
• Teacher-prepared "Feelings Flashcards" with simple faces showing happy, sad, confused, and determined

Lesson Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Topic Introduction

   • Begin with a warm welcome and a short conversation starter: "Raise your hand if you've heard about the Civil War!"

2. Simple Explanation

   • "The Civil War was a time when the United States was split like a big jigsaw puzzle into two parts, and people had different ideas about how they should live."

3. Map Activity

   • Show the map of the United States. Point out the north and the south. Highlight them with blue and red crayons respectively.

Story Time (10 minutes)

1. Read Aloud

   • Read a chosen passage from the book to introduce characters and basic concepts, using simple language and pausing to explain new words.

2. Discussion Prompt

   • Ask questions like, "Who were the good helpers in the story?" or "What makes people want to be friends again?"

Interactive Activity (10 minutes)

1. Feelings Flashcard Activity

   • Show "Feelings Flashcards" and ask students to imagine how people might have felt during the Civil War.
   • Students mimic the feelings or offer additional words they associate with them.

2. Art or Story Creation

   • Invite each student to draw a picture or tell a short personal story using construction paper about a time they had a disagreement and how it was similar to working things out like friends.

Conclusion and Sharing (10 minutes)

1. Sharing Circle:

   • Students share their drawings or stories, highlighting one way they resolved a disagreement.

2. Recap Lesson Key Points

   • Summarize: "Just like how friends sometimes argue, our country had a big disagreement, but people worked hard to be a team again."

3. Closing Question

   • Ask: "What’s something new you learned today about working together?"

4. Homework Option (optional for families)

   • Encourage students to ask family members about stories from the past and bring one to share during the next lesson.

Assessment

• Participation: Engaging during the discussion and activity.
• Understanding: Ability to express feelings and concepts related to the Civil War through drawings or simple stories.
• Creativity: Use of imagination in their artistic expression.

Differentiation

• Advanced Learners: Encourage them to describe more complex feelings or predict what happens next in historical stories.
• Visual Learners: Provide more visual aids, like pictures and real maps.
• ESL Students: Use more gestures and provide pictorial vocabulary cards for support.

By creating a journey through this significant event in American history, the lesson aims to instill empathy and understanding in young learners, providing a simplified but meaningful insight into the Civil War.