Grade: 7

Unit 5 : Civil War Literature

By the end of the unit, students will answer the following two writing prompts:
Note to teacher: There are many historical fiction books on the Civil War. The anchor texts we chose were Bull Run and Across Five Aprils, however, you can choose to read from other texts and adjust the prompt as
needed.

You will creating an expository piece using a multi-media format (i.e. Prezi or Powerpoint) Your presentation should include information on the characters, setting,
possible themes, as well as a summary of Across Five Aprils. In addition, you will research and select a minimum of three photographic images to enhance your
presentation. Matthew Brady was one of the first war photographers. Search for some of his images that will deepen your audiences understanding of the book Across
Five Aprils..
Dont forget:
Topic should be clear and ideas, concepts and information well organized.
Include relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, and examples.
Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary.
Maintain a formal style.
Include a minimum of three photos with captions that clarify connection to text.


Week Mentor text Supplemental
text/Multimedia
Standards Assessment
Reading Writing Speaking/Listening Language
1
Bull Run by Paul
Fleischman Lexile 810
Map of Bull Run
http://www.historyanimated.
com/BullRunAnimation.html

PBS: The Civil War: The Cause
http://video.pbs.org/vide
o/1832458783/


Strategy:
Inferring
Standard:
RL.7.1, RL.7.2, RL.7.5

W.7.4, W.7.5,
W.7.8, W.7.9
SL.7.1, SL.7.4, SL.7.6 L.7.1, L.7.2, L.7.3,
L.7.5, L.7.6
Character Analysis
Sheet
http://amhistory.si.ed
u/militaryhistory/reso
urces/BullRun/Studen
tReading.pdf
2

Bull Run by Paul
Fleischman Lexile 810
Biography of Matthew
Brady, Civil War
Photographer
http://www.civilwar.org/e
ducation/history/biograph
ies/mathew-brady.html
Photo by Brady: A Picture
of the Civil War by
Jennifer Armstrong
Strategy:
Inferring; Determine
Importance
Standard:
RL.7.1, RL.7.2, RL.7.5
W.7.2, W.7.4,
W.7.5, W.7.8, W.7.9

SL.7.1, SL.7.4, SL.7.6 L.7.1, L.7.2, L.7.3,
L.7.5, L.7.6
Quick write on
authors organization
of text
3
Across Five Aprils by Irene
Hunt Lexile 1100
Chapters 1-4
Excerpts from A History of
US: War, Terrible War by
Joy Hakim
http://www.amazon.com/
History-US-Terrible-1855-
1865-
Book/dp/0195188993/ref
=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=un
defined&sr=8-
2&keywords=history+of+
US+civil+war


Strategy:
Determine Importance;
Summarizing
Standard:
RL.7.1, RL.7.2, RL.7.5
W.7.2, W.7.4,
W.7.5, W.7.8, W.7.9
SL.7.1, SL.7.4, SL.7.6 L.7.1, L.7.2, L.7.3,
L.7.5, L.7.6
quick write summary
of information in
passage selected
4
Across Five Aprils by Irene
Hunt Lexile 1100
Chapters 5-9
Brother Against Brother at
Secessionville
http://www.civilwar.org/batt
lefields/secessionville/secessi
onville-history-
articles/brother-against-
brother-at.html
Strategy:
Determine Importance;
Synthesizing
Standard:
RL.7.1, RL.7.2, RL.7.5
W.7.2, W.7.4,
W.7.5, W.7.8, W.7.9

SL.7.1, SL.7.4, SL.7.6 L.7.1, L.7.2, L.7.3,
L.7.5, L.7.6
drafting of
presentation, get
feedback from
classmates
5
Across Five Aprils by Irene
Hunt Lexile 1100
Chapters 10-12
O Captain! My Captain!
by Walt Whitman
http://www.poetryfounda
tion.org/poem/174742
Free Close Read download
http://www.teacherspayt
eachers.com/Product/Co
mmon-Core-Close-Read-
Oh-Captain-My-Captain-
657296
Strategy:
Inferring; Synthesizing
Standard:
RL.7.1, RL.7.2, RL.7.5
W.7.2, W.7.4,
W.7.5, W.7.8, W.7.9
SL.7.1, SL.7.4, SL.7.6 L.7.1, L.7.2, L.7.3,
L.7.5, L.7.6
Quick write in
response to poem
completion and
sharing of
presentations
*note: Bold standards indicate when new standard is introduced
**Note: standards highlighted are the focus standards for the week
Helpful Resources:
Civil War Trust http://www.civilwar.org
National Museum of American History prepared unit, Voices of Bull Run: http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/resources/BullRun/UnitOverview.pdf
The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/classroom/annotated_list.html