Differentiation Ideas
Civil War
SS5H1 The student will explain the causes, major events, and consequences of the Civil War.
a. Identify Uncle Tom’s Cabin and John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, and explain how each
of these events was related to the Civil War.
b. Discuss how the issues of states’ rights and slavery increased tensions between the North
and South.
c. Identify major battles and campaigns: Fort Sumter, Gettysburg, the Atlanta Campaign,
Sherman’s March to the Sea, and Appomattox Court House.
d. Describe the roles of Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, and
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
e. Describe the effects of war on the North and South.
SS5G1 The student will locate important places in the United States.
b. Locate important man-made places; include the Chisholm Trail; Pittsburgh, PA; Gettysburg,
PA; Kitty Hawk, NC; Pearl Harbor, HI; and Montgomery, AL.
Differentiation ideas:
After completing lesson(s) about the Civil War, have students complete the activity below.

Support:
Given a copy of a timeline and a list of important Civil War events, have students add the
events to the timeline.
On Target:
Given a copy of a timeline and a list of important Civil War events, have students add the
events to the timeline and then give a brief explanation about the consequences of those
events.
Extended:
Students should create their own Civil War Era timeline. The timeline should include important
events as well as an explanation about the consequences of those events.
Allow students to choose one of the activities listed below. Based one student choices, develop
groups of students to complete the activities listed below.

Song, play, or skit:
Write a song, play, or skit about the following sections of the abolitionist movement: Uncle
Tom’s Cabin, The Underground Railroad, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick
Douglas.
Photostory:
Create a photostory with at least one photo on each of the following important people:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Underground Railroad, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and
Frederick Douglas. Make sure to state at least three facts about why each is important.
Diary Entry:
Imagine you are a runaway slave on the Underground Railroad. Write about what it is like to
always be on the run. Also write what you would think about people (or objects) like Uncle
Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and Sojourner Truth. Include one reason (or
fact) of why you think the way you do about each one.
Differentiated Informal Assessment Ideas:

Support:
Match the key leaders with the role they played in the Civil War.
On Target:
Create a graphic organizer to describe the roles key leaders played in the Civil War.
Extended:
Work in pairs to develop a debate between Union and Confederate leaders of the Civil War.