Alief ISD
Social Studies Lesson Plans
5th Grade 5 Unit 5
Causes of Civil War
Date:
Desired Results: (Unit
Understanding)
Conflict between the North and
South increased as a result of
economic differences
Time Allotted: 10 – 12 Days
Unit Question:
Objective/TEKS:
Did different ways of life make
conflict between the North and
South unavoidable?
I can name and explain the major
events that led to the Civil War as
well as the effects the Civil War
had on America. 5.4D
Assessment:
History Alive TE pages 265-266
Anticipatory Set: (Universal Generalization) (Hook)
Divide class into two groups based on pant color (Blue/Khaki). Give one group students a
ridiculous academic task that is unachievable during the social studies block. Give the
other group of students time to relax and supervise the progress of those students who
are working. After a few minutes of this activity bring students back into whole group
and discuss feelings related to the activity.
Instructional Input: (Line) Modeled/Guided Practice: The following lesson
could be taught over a 4-6 day time period.
Day 1: Differences Grow Between the North and the South
History Alive pages 186-187 or Red Book pages 464-465
After reading these pages complete student reading notes (History Alive) pg. 72 in the
Interactive Student Notebook.
Day 2: The Missouri Compromise
History Alive page188 or Red Book page 477
After reading these pages complete student reading notes (History Alive) pg. 73 in the
Interactive Student Notebook.
Day 3: Abolitionist and the Underground Railroad
History Alive page189 or Red Book page 472-473
After reading these pages complete student reading notes (History Alive) pg. 74 in the
Interactive Student Notebook.
Day 4: The Compromise of 1850
History Alive page190 or Red Book page 478
After reading these pages complete student reading notes (History Alive) pg. 75 in the
Interactive Student Notebook.
Day 5: “Bleeding Kansas”
History Alive page191 or Red Book page 479
After reading these pages complete student reading notes (History Alive) pg. 76 in the
Interactive Student Notebook.
Topics:
Economic Issues
*Differences in
Geography
*Plantation economy in
the South
*Industry in the North
*Tariff Issues
Vocabulary:
Civil War
Plantation
Industry
Immigrant
Compromise
Abolitionist
Secede
Confederates
sectionalism
Materials/Resources:

Text, Ch. 14, pp.
464-465
History Alive!
America’s Past,
Lesson 18 – The
Causes of the Civil War
Day 6: The Election of Abraham Lincoln (A New Political Party)
History Alive page188 or Red Book page 477
After reading these pages complete student reading notes (History Alive) pg. 73 in the
Interactive Student Notebook.
Grade 5 Unit 5
1
Alief ISD
Independent Practice: (Sinker)
Causes of Civil War Exemplar
Here are the tasks that you will complete for this exemplar.
1. COMPARE / CONTRAST Northern States to Southern States
- Using your reading notes do the following:
- compare and contrast the two pieces
- use a graphic organizer to organize your thoughts
2. SEQUENCE of Events
- identify the 8 most important events of the story
- organize them in chronological order (month, day, year)
- use a graphic organizer to organize your thoughts
3. NEW LEARNING
Write 2 of each of the following reactions you had as you read the text:
o new facts learned
o questions you have about things you are still wondering about
o things that surprised you
o fascinating facts (DYK)
o things that surprised you
How will you check
for understanding?
The students should
be able to answer
the following unit
understanding
question:
Did different ways of
life make conflict
between the North
and South
unavoidable?
4. Cause and Effect
- show 5 cause and effect relationships from the story
- use a graphic organizer to organize your thoughts
Modifications/Extensions:
Closure:
The students will create a poster board that includes all of the information that was
gathered from the above activities. The poster should be graded on content and
creativity. Maybe you would want to suggest that they set their posters up in the form of
a “Frayer Model” to help them to organize the information.
Grade 5 Unit 5
2