Free Battles of the Civil War Activity

In my days as a teacher, I remember longing for time to squeeze in meaningful history lessons, only to find myself reading chapters out of a textbook. Needless to say, my students were less than engaged. To help avoid this same situation in your classroom, I have spent hours creating worthwhile and engaging US History lessons. In this free battles of the Civil War activity, your students will learn about some of the most important battles of the Civil War through primary sources.

Engage Students Using Primary Sources

A primary source is a document, image, or artifact that provides a firsthand account of an event.

Map showing Charleston Harbor S.C. Bombardment of Fort Sumter

But why use primary sources? According to the Library of Congress, using primary sources in the classroom:

Gives students a glimpse into what it was like to live in past eras
Prompts curiosity
And improves critical thinking and analysis skills

So, not only are primary sources engaging for students, but they also teach critical thinking skills that can be used across all subjects. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Tips for Teaching with Primary Sources

Teachinghistory.org outlines a process for analyzing primary documents. In this process, students look at the source four times – each time focusing their attention on a different aspect. First, students read for context. Second, students read for meaning. Third, students read for argument. And, fourth, students read like a historian.

Another source I love to use when teaching with primary and secondary sources is the National Archive. Their simple worksheets provide a quick and easy way for students to analyze primary sources.