Key Historical Events of the Civil War

Category

Background:

Criterion

Name of Course/Class:
U.S. History: America in the World/Key Historical Events of the Civil War
Grade Level:
10th grade
Technology/Resources/Materials:
iPad Cart (1 for all)
iTunes Store (1 for all)
Prezi (1 for each student)
Internet access
Projector Screen (1 for all)
Desktop Computers (depending number students needing modifications)
Laptops (depending number students needing modifications)
White Board (1 for all)
Poll Everywhere (1 for all)
Survey Monkey (1 for each student)
Accommodations/Modifications:
When presenting Prezi visual overviews, students will be informed to increase the zoom level of the screen to 300% so
all students can see the presentations on the projector screen.
Students will have two class periods to complete the assignment (extended time).
Students will be able to use desktop computers or laptops rather than iPads if needed to have a larger hands-on assistive
technology piece.
Rather than identifying 5 key historical events that determined the outcome of the Civil War, some students will
identify 3 events to show their understanding.

Essential Questions
How do our interpretations of past events inform our understanding of cause and effect, and continuity and change,
and how do they influence our beliefs and decisions about current public policy issues?
Objectives
High School U.S. History students will analyze how the 5 given key historical events determined the outcome of the
Civil War in a visual overview.

Orient the learner:

High School U.S. History students will compare the 5 key historical events to current events today in their Prezi
overview.
Standards
6.1 U.S. History: America in the World. All students will acquire the knowledge and skills to think analytically about
how past and present interactions of people, cultures, and the environment shape the American heritage. Such
knowledge and skills enable students to make informed decisions that reflect fundamental rights and core democratic
values as productive citizens in local, national, and global communities.
NJCCCS. SOCIAL STUDIES. 6.1.12.D.4.b: Compare and contrast the impact of the American Civil War and the
impact of a past or current civil war in another country in terms of the consequences for peoples lives and work.
Interdisciplinary Standards
NJCCCS. TECHNOLOGY. 8.1.4.A.3: Create and present a multimedia presentation that includes graphics.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse
formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
Anticipatory Set/Hook/Daily Review
When students walk into class, they will be informed to answer the question on the projector screen. The question will
be, By being given 5 key historical events of the Civil War, how can we analyze the importance of those events and
uncover correlations into recent events that have transpired today. This question will be presented on Poll Everywhere,
and students will have to join the room and answer the question as yes or no on their iPad.
Input/Modeling or Present Information
Students will download the app the Civil War Today on iTunes, construct a Prezi visual overview and present to the
2

Instructional Design:

class on the projector screen.

Check for Understanding/Provide Learner Guidance
To make sure the students understand the purpose of the lesson, they will take part in a think pair share. Before they
download the Civil War Today app, they will be presented on the White Board with one key historical event of the
Civil War. They will first have to decide individually why that event holds relevance in determining the outcome of the
Civil War and how that event contains similarities in current world events today. Once they are done thinking
independently, they will pair up with a partner and compare their explanations on why that event matters to the Civil
War and current events today. Then I will call on certain groups to present to the class why that event is important. The
class explanations will be used as a model for how to proceed with the assignment.
Guided Practice with coaching /Elicit Performance
Students will be instructed once more to look at a Prezi visual overview done by the teacher on the White Board that
explains why 5 given key historical events of the American Revolution had significance in determining the end result
of the Civil War. In a brainstorming activity, students will be given the opportunity to model the Prezi visual overview
for each other that allows them time to become familiar with the assignment. The brainstorming activity will answer
whether or not they know what the assignment entails.
Independent Practice/Provide informative feedback
While the students are creating their Prezi overviews, the teacher will present a question on Poll Everywhere stating
How well do you understand the assignment on a scale of 1 to 3. 3 being I am able to complete the assignment
independently, 2 being a need a little assistance/clarification and 1 being I need to meet with the teacher. The teacher
will observe students who answered 3, conference with students who answered 1 and students who answered 2 can join
and leave the conference on their own time.
Closure
Each student will present their Prezi visual overview to the class in a five minute time limit.
Assessment
High School U.S. History students will analyze how the 5 given key historical events determined the outcome of the
Civil War in a visual overview.
High School U.S. History students will compare the 5 key historical events to current events today in their Prezi
overview.
Enhance/Transfer
This lesson holds relevance today because we can apply knowledge from past events (Civil War) to present ones today
(War on Terror).

Student/ Teacher Feedback

Students will complete a brief survey on SurveyMonkey.com. The survey will relate to their lesson and they will give
feedback on how they felt the lesson went and what the teacher needs to improve. They will rate the following
questions from a score of 1 to 5 on Survey Monkey. 1 meaning very poor, 2 poor, 3 average, 4 good, and 5 great.
Student Feedback
Were the technology applications used in this assignment (Civil War app, Prezi, PollEverywhere, Survey Monkey, etc.)
easily transferrable to the class lesson?
How effective were each of the applications (Civil War app, PollEverywhere, Survey Monkey, etc.) in relation to the
assignment material?
How appropriate was the teachers modeling of technology?
Did the teacher adequately explain the directions regarding each technology?

Recommendation:

Teacher Feedback
The teacher will give students feedback by using the same rating scale.
Did the student transfer technology applications into his/her presentation?
How effective did the student use the applications presented?
Did the students follow directions regarding each technology?