New Winston Museum- Civil War Journal
Classroom Lesson Plan
Moderator: Teacher
Suggested Grade Level – 3-4
New Winston Museum
Civil War Journal- Lesson Plan
Overview
Through discussion and creative writing, students will understand that the idea of secession
created division on the home front, but Winston and Salem community members ultimately
supported soldiers and the war effort in a variety of ways.
This lesson should be taught in conjunction with a unit on the Civil War
Grade Level
This activity is best suited for third or fourth grade. It is adaptable for eighth grade by using
higher level thinking questions.
National/State Standards
Common Core
 This activity aligns to the common core standards for ELA/social studies
North Carolina Essential Standards
 Third Grade
o 3.H.1- Understand how events, individuals and ideas have influence the
history of local and regional communities
o 3.H.2- Use historical thinking skills to understand the context of events,
people and places.
o 3.C&G.2- Understand how citizens participate in their communities
 Fourth Grade
o 4.H.1- Analyze the chronology of key historical events in North Carolina
history.
o 4.G.1- Understand how human, environmental and technological factors
affect the growth and development of North Carolina.
 Eighth Grade
o 8.H.1-Apply historical thinking to understand the creation and development
of North Carolina and the United States.
o 8.H.2- Understand the ways in which conflict, compromise and negotiation
have shaped North Carolina and the United States.
o 8.H.2- Understand the factors that contribute to change and continuity in
North Carolina and the United States.
Duration
30-45 minutes
Materials Needed
Paper and pencil
Subject
Civil War, North Carolina History
New Winston Museum- Civil War Journal
Classroom Lesson Plan
Moderator: Teacher
Suggested Grade Level – 3-4
Teacher Name: ________
Subject: ________
Grade level: ___
Civil War Journals
Lesson step
script
1. Focus/hook and review
Description of Activities and Setting
Begin by checking for
understanding of the concept of
Civil War
Question
What is a civil war?
Can you give me an
example of a civil
war?
Today we’re going to
look at the effects of
the Civil War in
Winston and Salem.
Gauge knowledge of Civil War in
Winston and Salem through the
use of a KWL chart. Students
complete the K and W portions
of the chart.
2. Statement of Objective
Fill in with specific NC Essential
Standards/Common Core Standards
What do you know
about the Civil War?
What do you know
about the Civil War’s
effect on Winston
and Salem?
What do you want to
know about its
effect?
LEQs:
How did local
communities
contribute to the war
effort?
What was the effect
of the Civil War on
the cities of Winston
and Salem?
3. Lesson focal understanding: The idea of secession created division on the home
front, but Winston and Salem community members ultimately supported soldiers
and the war effort in a variety of ways.
New Winston Museum- Civil War Journal
Classroom Lesson Plan
Moderator: Teacher
Suggested Grade Level – 3-4
4. Teacher input
Begin by asking questions 
Think about your
classmates. If I were
to tell your class that
you were going to
lose (pick two activities
that the class as a whole
enjoys), do you think
that, as a class, you
could agree which
privilege you would
want to lose?
Why do you think it
would/wouldn’t be
difficult to decide?
Note that the residents of Forsyth
County faced an even more
difficult decision - Did they agree
with secession (leaving the United
States) or not.
Explain that although the
community was divided over the
question of secession. Eventually,
NC seceded, and the residents of
Winston and Salem contributed
to the war effort.
Go over ways residents
contributed to the war effortMen joined the Confederate
Army, F&H Fries Manufacturing
made cloth for uniforms,
women/children raised money
through plays, women worked as
nurses, residents limited their use
of items such as leather and salt
so that it could be reserved for
use by the troops.
Why do you think it
would be difficult to
decide if you wanted
to secede from the
US and form your
own country?
What are some ways
you think people
contributed to the
war effort?
Can you imagine
having to give up a
new pair of your
favorite shoes?
New Winston Museum- Civil War Journal
Classroom Lesson Plan
Moderator: Teacher
Suggested Grade Level – 3-4
Even though there was a war, life
continued in Winston and Salem.
Salem Academy, for example,
never missed a day of classes!
Although attendance declined,
churches still had their weekly
services.
5. Application of content –
As the war continued, life in
Winston and Salem changed
when compared to before the
war. Prices of goods dramatically
increased- corn was $10 (almost
$150 today) a bushel, salt was $20
(almost $300 today) a sack, and
bacon sometimes went for $2-$3
(almost $30 today) a pound. The
state decided to raise taxes on its
citizens, and this hurt many
residents of Winston and Salem.
Today, we’re going to write a
letter or journal entry.
Imagine the price of
your favorite food
tripled. Would you
pay a higher price to
eat it, or would you
go without?
Pretend you are a resident of
Winston or Salem during the Civil
War. Write a letter or journal
entry from that perspective.
6. Extension/transfer
Pass Out the writing guidelines
and allow students 15-20 minutes
to write.
Apply the lesson to today’s
society through a discussion.
If a civil war were to
happen today, do you
think residents of
Winston-Salem
would experience the
same effects?
7. Assessment(s) for lesson: journal entries/letters and class discussion
8. Closure
Summarize the important details
from today's lesson: shortages,
civil war, etc. by completing the L
portion of the KWL chart as a
What have you
learned about the
Civil War?
New Winston Museum- Civil War Journal
Classroom Lesson Plan
Moderator: Teacher
Suggested Grade Level – 3-4
class.
Lesson materials/reference list: Paper, pencils