Civil War Exhibits (Project) Attachment
(Adapted from project designed by Howard Martin)
Student Name:
Parent Signature:
American Civil War Museum
The American Civil War was an important turning point in the history of our country. It affected
the lives of every person in every city, in every state and affects our lives in 21 st century America
as well. This social studies unit will help us to understand this part of American history through
the use of a variety of resources in our classrooms, our homes, and the school and public
libraries. Students will create museum displays (projects) to show what we have learned.
Projects will then be displayed as a classroom museum exhibit.
We will be reading about this era in our social studies textbook, but students will also need to use
resources from the classroom, the libraries, the Internet, and our homes. (Encyclopedias can be
a great help for these projects.) Much of the reading, discussions, and research will be done at
school, but students will need to work on these projects at home.
At the completion of this unit, each student should be able to demonstrate an
understanding of:
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Why the Civil War started
Important turning points in the war (including beginning and end)
Leaders who affected the resolution (ending) of the war
Why and how the war ended
The effect of the war on the U.S. (then and now)
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through the completion of several projects.
These projects will be due on the following dates. (They may be completed in any order.)
Due Dates: ______________________________________________
Each student must complete the following two projects:
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1. Create an organized timeline to illustrate the events (at least 5) and the people (at
least 2) you believe were most important to the Civil War. When you identify the people,
place them on the timeline with something they did that was important to the Civil War.
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2. The war is over and you must pick a new head coach for your national athletic team.
The two finalists for the job are Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. Think about their
abilities as leaders. Tell who you would select and give your reasons for choosing that
man.
(Continue to next page.)
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Civil War Exhibits (Project) Attachment
(Adapted from project designed by Howard Martin)
You must choose projects from the list below:
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3. Cartographers make maps. Apply your map-making skills to this project. Create
a map to show one of the major battles or campaigns of the war. Include a legend, a
scale, a map grid (latitude and longitude), and a compass rose. Provide a title with
the name, location, and date of the battle and a caption explaining the outcome of the
conflict and telling where you got your information.
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4. This war changed many things about life in America. Use what you have learned
to create a venn diagram showing what changed or didn’t change about daily life,
government, people’s rights, etc.
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5. Technology plays an important role in every war. New technology is often
developed in order to make things more convenient. Create a poster that shows
how technology advanced during the Civil War. Show and describe examples of the
changes in daily life that resulted from these advances.
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6. In order to learn from history, it’s important to understand the causes of conflicts
and confrontations. Use Powerpoint, Hyperstudio, or Clarisworks Slideshow to
create a short presentation outlining the major causes of the American Civil War. [Be
sure to include the conflict over “states’ rights.”]
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7. It is also important to know something about the people who were involved in
making history. How and why did they get involved? What in their lives inspired
them to become active, rather than just hoping things would work out the way they
wanted? Use Powerpoint, Hyperstudio, or Clarisworks Slideshow to create a
short presentation of mini-biographies on five people who were especially important
to the Civil War. [Include at least two of the following: Clara Barton, Henry Clay,
Jefferson Davis, Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass, Ulysses S. Grant, Sam
Houston, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Dred Scott, Harriet Tubman.]
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8. “A picture paints a thousand words,” is a very famous saying. Pictures can help
us to better understand and more clearly remember things. Create a picture
dictionary of people, places, events, or other things that are representative of the
Civil War. Along with your illustrations, your dictionary should define or explain at
least 15 entries. Be sure to explain their significance to the war or the era (time
period).
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9. The art, music, and literature enjoyed and created during any given period in
history can tell us something about the people who lived in that era. Create either a
“big book” or a display board [like the display boards used for science fair]
showing examples of the art, music, and literature created during the Civil War.
Show at least one example of each and explain how they reflect the lives of
Americans during the Civil War.
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10. While history books and encyclopedias provide a great deal of information,
primary sources give us a special understanding of history. A primary source is
information that comes directly from a person involved in an event. These sources
are often letters or recordings in which people shared their thoughts. Find a primary
source written during the Civil War. Think about what the person wrote and write a
personal response. [If the primary source is a letter, write a letter back to themdiscussing your thoughts about what they wrote.] For extra fun, create a real-looking
copy [replica] of the original primary source, making the paper look old and stained.
(Continue to next page.)
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Civil War Exhibits (Project) Attachment
(Adapted from project designed by Howard Martin)
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11. Heroes are created by the people who see their actions as heroic. Create
“Celebrity Cards” (like baseball cards or Yugio cards) for the three Civil War leaders
you think were the most heroic. Tell who they were, when they lived, what they did to
help end the war, and any other interesting information.
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12. “Commemorative stamps” are made and sold by the U.S. Postal Service to
honor people and events. Create a scrapbook with a small Civil War “stamp
collection” you design. Begin with an explanation of the term “amend” and why the
Constitution can be amended. Write a brief prediction of how life today might be
different if these amendments had not been made.
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13. History is made by people who feel a need to do something. Make a pamphlet
or brochure showing the challenges and contributions of women, African Americans,
or both, during the Civil War. Include illustrations and graphics to make it more
interesting.
Parents, your child has chosen the projects checked below. Please help him / her to have
the projects ready on the due dates and sign the first page so we know we’re working
together.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Timeline
Pick a head coach
Battle Map
Venn Diagram
Poster- technology
Slideshow- causes
Slideshow- mini-biographies
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Picture Dictionary
Big Book or Display
Personal Response
Celebrity Cards
Stamp Collection
Pamphlet
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