Grade 5 - America in Conflict

Students read historical fiction and informational text about the Civil War in the United States and compare and contrast the ways in which each type of text describes key historical events. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the period beyond what is addressed in print, students listen to music and examine art from the Civil War period. The culminating activity is to compose a narrative that is set within a historical context, includes a fictional character with a conflict to grow from, the ideas of ‘life and dignity of the human person’ and ‘rights and responsibilities’ and incorporates authentic facts, photos, or artwork.