Resources Unit 3: Surviving The Civil War 1863

I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg By Lauren Tarshis - This is the main book for the unit.  It is required to complete the unit.  

Spy on History Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring – by Enigma Alberti and Tony Cliff – A mystery book based on a true story.  A unique and interactive book with codes and ciphers – a fantastic way to make history interesting.  Suggested for children ages 10-14.

Why We Fought – Soldiers of the Civil War by Tim Roche – An excellent book to use as a read aloud or a resource for teaching.  Also a great reader for older children. Excellent photos and facts.  Lots of information in small pieces.  Appropriate for children 1st -6^th grades.

Untold History of the Civil War The Civil War in the West by Douglas J. Savage – Excellent maps and timeline.  A good book to teach from and a great read for advanced 4^th graders and older who have a strong interest in history.

The Civil War The Men Who Fought The Civil War by Linda R. Wade – This book has good information about the many people and how they contributed to the war.  It would make a good read aloud and give opportunity for discussion.  Appropriate for 2^nd-5^th grades

Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself by Maxine Anderson – Oh – I Love this book!  Not only does this book contain facts, trivia and historic information, but it also has so many hands on projects that relate perfectly to the subject at hand.  This is one for the personal library – EXCELLENT.  Appropriate for 1^st-7^th grades.

The Civil War: Weapons by Jim Ollhoff – This is an excellent book.  It is not very thick – but it has solid information on a variety of weapons.  Appropriate for ages 7-12.
 

Daring Women of the Civil War by Carin T. Ford – An excellent book full of great information, facts, pictures, chapter notes, timeline and more.  Appropriate for grades 2^nd-6^th.

The Civil War’s African-American Soldiers by Carin T. Ford – An excellent book to teach from.  Easy to read and thin enough to assign as independent reading also.  Good information in small pieces.  Appropriate for 2^nd-6^th grade.

Courageous Women of the Civil War by M. R. Cordell – An exceptional book!  A great read aloud – definitely one to teach from.  I would not recommend it for independent reading unless it were for a jr high or high school student. 

Women of the Civil War by Carin T. Ford –  An excellent book to teach from.  Easy to read and thin enough to assign as independent reading also.  Good information in small pieces.  Appropriate for 2^nd-6^th grade.

The Civil War Slavery and the Civil War by Linda R. Wade - This book is a good resource.  It would make a good read aloud and give opportunity for discussion.  Appropriate for 2^nd-5^th grades

A Civil War Scrapbook by Marilyn Lindenbaum – One of my favorite books!  Certainly one to consider for your personal library.  This is book is filled with excellent information and photos.  Here is just some of what you will find – timeline, glossary, activities, spy tactics, crafts, morse code, game, women of the war, slavery, animals and the war, and so much more!  Suggested for 2^nd-7^th grade. 

Slavery and the Underground Railroad by Carin T. Ford – This is a very good book with a lot of hard to read information and images.  However, it is very important to educate on the hard things – that is one way to help keep from repeating horrible things in history.  Suggested for 3^rd-5^th as a read aloud – older children independently.

Lincoln, Slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation by Carin T. Ford – An excellent book to teach from.  Easy to read and thin enough to assign as independent reading also.  Good information in small pieces.  Appropriate for 2^nd-6^th grade.

Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman  Appropriate for all ages.  A popluar book among homeschoolers.  Excellent information and images.  

Why We Fought – Key People of the Civil War by Lori McManus – An excellent book to use as a read aloud or a resource for teaching.  Also a great reader for older children. Excellent photos and facts.  Lots of information in small pieces.  Appropriate for children 1st -6^th grades.

Civil War Weapons by Graham Smith – This book is incredible!  Close up images, over 250 pages of Civil War Weaponry and historical photographs.  Appropriate for all ages. 

The Illustrated History of the Civil War by William C. Davis – By far one of the best and most complete books I have seen about the Civil War.  Highly recommended to use as a teacher’s text.  This book can easily be used throughout the entire Historical Stories Civil War unit.  Certainly one to consider for the personal library.  Appropriate for all ages.

Dear America The Diary of Amelia Martin by Karen Hesse –A favorite series in historical fiction.  Dear America books tell stories through the eyes of young girls and boys during trying times in our history.  Appropriate for 3^rd-7^th grade.

Young Scientist Concepts and Projects – Astronomy by Robin Kerrod – By far one of my favorite books.  This is an excellent book for kids to read on their own and explore projects – or to do as a family with younger kids.  Build a telescope, a sundial, learn about constellations and moon movements and SO MUCH MORE.  Appropriate for independent use 4^th-7^th grades.

Traveling the Freedom Road by Linda Barrett Osborne – A very good book with true stories of runaway slaves, the Civil War, excellent photographs and much more.  This book is a good book to teach from – but could be a good read for children 4^th grade and older.

Survive Alive Finding Your Way by Neil Champion – This is an excellent book with practical information.  In this book you will find information about using a compass, how ships used to navigate, using the stars as a guide and much more.  This book includes a survival skills test, hands on projects and real life survival practice exercises.  Appropriate for grades 3^rd-8th

Samuel F. B. Morse by Judy Alter – Interesting information about his life, inventions and artistic career.  Recommended for additional insight into how Morse code began.  Suggested for all ages.

Civil War Weapons and Equipment by Russ A. Pritchard Jnr – This is an excellent resource book.  Excellent photos and information about uniforms, weapons, boats and more.  Appropriate for all ages.

The Massacheusetts 54^th by Gina DeAngelis – I appreciate all the information in this book.  It is a good overview – however – if interested you could certainly research this piece of Civil War history even further.  Suggested for all ages.

Robert E. Lee The Story of the Great Confederate General by Terry Collins - This is a graphic novel style book.  The information in the book is good information, written in a style that appeals to reluctant readers.  Appropriate for 3^rd-6^th grade.

The Battle of Gettysburg by Michael Burgan – This is a graphic novel style book.  The information in the book is good information, written in a style that appeals to reluctant readers.  Appropriate for 3^rd-6^th grade.

Great Women of the Civil War by Lucia Raatma – This is a really easy read. Good information and photos.  Suggested for 3^rd-6^th grade.

Petticoat Spies Six Women Spies of the Civil War by Peggy Caravantes – This is a great book with lots of interesting information.  It could be read independently by older students, or used as a read aloud.  Suggested for all ages.

Lincoln and the Abolition of Slavery by Russell Roberts – This is an excellent book to teach from.  Older children could use it as independent reading.  Excellent, easy to understand information. There are not a lot of pictures in this book – but it is still a pretty easy read.  

The Visual Dictionary of the Civil War by John Stanchak – An excellent resource!  With more than 250 excellent photos, easy to understand text and vocabulary words – this book is one for your library.  Appropriate for all ages.

The Civil War An Interactive History Adventure by Matt Doeden – An excellent historical fiction book.  Everything in the book happened to real people – choose your own path and see how the story ends for you!  Suggested for 3^rd-7^th grade.

Undying Glory The Story of the Massachusetts 54^th Regiment by Clinton Cox – This is an excellent book to use as a resource, read aloud or as assigned reading to an older student 4^th-8^th grade.  

Why Fight? The Causes of the American Civil War by Corinne J. Naden and Rose Blue – This is an excellent book that talks about the causes of the war, the division of our country and includes information about key people of the time.  Suggested for children in grades 6-8.

African Americans during the Civil War by Philip Schwartz – A very thorough list of topics are included in this book – First Africans to Serve, Right to Fight, “Colored Troops”, Equality, After the war and more.  Well organized and clearly written – suggested for independent reading for grades 6 and up.

The Outbreak of the Civil War by Heather Lehr Wagner – This is an excellent book to teach from for children 6^th grade and younger, or for 7^th grade and up to read independently and use as a resource and text.  Well written with quality photos, real letters from soldiers, and solid historical information.

Astronomy Lab for Kids by Michelle Nichols – A well organized and visually appealing book.  Time requirements and supplies are at the beginning of each of the 52 activities and experiments.  Scientific explanations of the fun projects and further enrichment follow each activity.  Appropriate for grades 3-6.

Mr. Lincoln’s High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen and Roger Macbride Allen – I always like to find lesser known bits of history.  This book does just that.  These two authors have taken what is known about Lincoln’s interest in technology and invention and shows us how he, as President, used it to win the war.  Suggested for independent reading for 5^th grade and up.  Can be used as a teacher’s text or read aloud for younger students.

Those Courageous Women of the Civil War by Karen Zeinert – I really like this book.  It tells the stories of women’s rolls during the war, whether it be as a mother, wife, field nurse, spy, cook, slave, on the battlefield, as a First Lady or as an author.  Suggested for grades 6-10, can be used as a read aloud for younger students.

Causes of the War by Tim Cooke – This is a very good book for younger students.  It gives highlights with short pieces of information with pictures, diagrams, timelines, facts and more.  This book would best be used by children in 2^nd-5^th grade.

Radio Rescue by Lynne Barasch –This is a cute story based on true life experiences.  This books something that seems so out of date and shows us how it can save lives even in today’s modern world.  A great book for 1^st-3^rd grade.

Astronomy Projects by Isaac Asimov – I really like this book.  It has several project ideas including model making and creative writing.  Suggested for children in grades 2-5.

Disney Educational Productions – The American Presidents 1850-1900 – Although this dvd runs 60 minutes – only about half of that pertains to The Civil War.  Includes biography and historical content.  Appropriate for grades 3-8. Runs 60 min.

Looking at Lincoln – Appropriate for children K-3^rd grade.  Run time is 10 minutes.

Under the Freedom Tree – Appropriate for 2^nd-6^th grades.  Run time 9 minutes.

Great Americans for Children – Abraham Lincoln – Appropriate for grades K-4^.  Run time 23 minutes.

Coloring Book – I really like the Dover Historical Coloring books – There are several about the Civil War.

Draw and Write Through History - Napoleon to Lady Liberty The World of the 1800's  - This book has a great tutorial on drawing a drummer boy.  This is a book that can be used with several history topics.

Draw Write Now Book 5 - In this book you will find a tutorial on how to draw a young Abe Lincoln.  In Book #1 you will find a tutorial on how to draw a horse.  These books were something our family used weekly when my kids were younger.  It is easy to find things that relate to what you are learning both in history and science.  You do not need to be an artist to help your children through the tutorial.

Civil War Paper Dolls

Civil War Costumes

 Civil War Figures