Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Events that led to the Civil War

Content Area: Social Studies

Grade Level(s): 8th Grade

Content Standard Addressed: SS8H5 Analyze the impact of the Civil War on Georgia.
a. Explain the importance of key issues and events that led to the Civil War; include slavery, states’
rights, nullification, Compromise of 1850 and the Georgia Platform, the Dred Scott case, Abraham
Lincoln’s election in 1860, and the debate over secession in Georgia.

Technology Standard Addressed: 6. Creative Communicator

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

Selected Technology Tool: ReadWriteThink.org

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable): http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/

interactives/timeline_2/

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☐ Remembering ☐ Understanding x Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating x
Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level): (Select the one best level) 

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion x Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): 


Engagement: Students in a history class should always question everything. One of the biggest
questions students might have in a Georgia History class is what caused the Civil War? This timeline
assignment will help give students an answer to that question.

Representation: This assignment can be catered to all students. 

Action and Expression: The ReadWriteThink software is easy to navigate for any student no matter
what their age or grade is. The great thing about this website is it does not require the student to
create man account therefore it doesn’t ask for personal information. This makes it to where the
teacher does not have to jump through hoops for every student to use this program therefore
making it accessible to all.




Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
Lesson idea implementation:
To implement this lesson the teacher will first need to give e students some background knowledge
on some of the events that may have led to the Civil War. The teacher will have the students divide
into a Think-Pair-Share. The teacher will ask the students what they think contributed to the cause
of the Civil War. The students will write this down and then get in pairs and discuss it with their
partners. After discussing it with their partners, the teacher will hold a class discussion. They will
give student’s feedback on their answers. The teacher will then go over some of the reasons.

Upon going over these events the teacher will assign the timeline assignment. The teacher will
show the students their example given in the link above of their own timeline. The teacher will
then ask the students to pull up the ReadWriteThink software on their computer where they will
create their own timelines of events leading up to the Civil War. The students may use the Internet
to research. The Georgia standard that includes the event will be posted on the board to help
guide students. It is the job of the student to put these events in order and explain how each on
contributed to the start of the Civil War.

Reflective Practice: Aside from this assignment helping students learn about thew Civil War,
there is more to this lesson I want students to take away. As a social studies teacher, I feel it is
our job to also teach students how to be productive citizens. One of the ways they can do so is
by questioning everything. This project allows them to do that because they can ask the
question: What caused the Civil War? I am hoping this assignment encourages students to
question everything on their future subjects and in the real world.

Spring 2018_SJB