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Lesson Plan Best Version
Lesson Plan Best Version
Division of Education
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES
After being shown a power point about the Civil War and participating in a class discussion
about the causes of the war, students will research documents from this specific time in history
and write in a well-constructed paragraph, two causes of the Civil War, with no grade lower than
a 2 out of 4, based on a teacher-constructed rubric.
NYS-CCLS / +NYS STANDARDS AND INDICATORS
CCLS-ELA (RI.5.1)
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
This will be evident when students research documents and write a well-constructed paragraph
on the causes of the Civil War
New York Social Studies State Standard (5.1.5. History of the United States)
Key turning points and the events in the history of the United States can be organized into
different historical time periods.
This will be evident when students participate in a class discussion about the causes of the Civil
War.
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Teacher-constructed Rubric
Computers (computer lab time)
MOTIVATION
(20 minutes)
DEVELOPMENTAL PROCEDURES
2: Students will take notes on a note-taking guide during the power point with the purpose
question in mind: What caused the Civil War? (10 minutes to review their notes- Day 1)
3: The class will have a discussion addressing the purpose question. (Does anyone have any
questions?) (20 minutes-Day 2)
4: Students will research information about the Civil War from three out of four recommended
websites. They will identify two causes of the Civil War. (What were two causes of the Civil
War?) (15 minutes- Day 2)
6: Advanced students will write a short response (2-3 sentences) about one website that they used
while writing their paragraph. They will answer the question: Which website was your favorite
and why? (Did you like the websites that were recommended to you? What did you learn from
them?)
7: All students will switch paragraphs with an assigned partner. Have them read each others
paragraphs and discuss. (What did you learn from working with your partner?) (20 minutes- Day
3)
8: The teacher will close the lesson by having students write a short response (2-3 sentences)
evaluating why they think the two causes led to the Civil War (opinion based.) How do you think
the Civil War could have been avoided? (20 minutes- Day 3)
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
1. Discussion
This will be evident when the students are discussing the causes of the Civil War.
2. Scaffolding
This will be evident when the teacher helps the students take notes and write a paragraph
by providing a note-taking guide and an example paragraph.
ADAPTATIONS
All students will be provided with a checklist, but this will benefit Casey, John, and Nick to help
keep them on task.
DIFFERENTIATION OF INSTRUCTION
Struggling
Struggling students will be provided with an example paragraph as a guide while writing their
own.
Average
Average students will have the option of using the example paragraph as a guide while writing
their own.
Advanced
Advanced students will not be provided with an example paragraph while writing their own.
After completing their paragraph, they will write a short response (2-3 sentences) about one
website that they used while writing their paragraph. They will answer the question: Which
website was your favorite and why?
Visual learners
Visual learners will benefit from the power point as a visual aid for note-taking.
Auditory learners
Auditory learners will benefit from the class discussion following the power point.
All students will be given a checklist, but this will benefit the struggling and visual students to
give them a set list of tasks to look at.
ASSESSMENT
Students will use writing strategies to create a well-constructed paragraph about two causes of
the Civil War, with no grade lower than a 2 out of 4, based on a teacher-constructed rubric.
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES
Topic:
People
Events
Important Question
Example: What was Lincolns main goal for the country before the Civil War?
1. http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/causes-of-the-civil-war/
2. http://www.historynet.com/causes-of-the-civil-war
3. http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/beyond-the-textbook/23912
4. http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/causes.htm
The Civil War started in 1861 and was a conflict between the northern and
southern citizens in the United States. Two causes of this war were the debate over
contradicting opinions in the country regarding slavery was the Dred Scott
Decision of 1857. The case denied a slave named Dred Scott citizenship solely
because he was African-American. The case claimed that any person with African
blood could not be a U.S citizen. This angered many northerners because they felt
that it was an injustice; while the southerners felt that it was perfectly fair. The
different point of views regarding the human and governmental rights of African
Americans eventually led to the Civil War. Lincolns election in 1860 attributed to
the start of the Civil War because it infuriated the Southern population. They felt
that Lincoln did not understand their needs or dreams for the future. The citizens
of the south believed that they lacked a president who related to them. Both the
contradiction over the issue of slavery and Lincolns election helped contribute to
websites
Identify two causes of the Civil War
Write paragraph
Switch paragraphs with a partner
Read and discuss your partners paragraph
Complete homework assignment
Paragraph Rubric
http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/causes_of_the_civil_war.php
Causes of the Civil War: A Balanced Answer. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2017, from
http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/causes.htm
Causes Of The Civil War. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2017, from
http://www.historynet.com/causes-of-the-civil-war
Causes Of The Civil War. (2014). Retrieved April 02, 2017, from
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/causes-of-the-civil-war/
English Language Arts Standards Reading: Literature Grade 5. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02,
Kelly, M. (n.d.). 5 Things That Caused the U.S. Civil War. Retrieved April 02, 2017, from
https://www.thoughtco.com/top-causes-of-the-civil-war-104532
New York State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 5. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2017, from
https://www.perma-bound.com/state-standards.do?state=NY&subject=social-
studies&gradeLevel=4
S. (2013, September 25). Causes of the Civil War by Shmoop. Retrieved April 06, 2017, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOCx8bKtPAM
Teaching History.org, home of the National History Education Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Retrieved
textbook/23912