The Civil War

Simulation
Angelica Rinebarger

Grades:

Time:

1 hour

Goal: By the end of the simulation, students will have a better understanding of the
events that occurred throughout the Civil War, why the events transpired, and the
effect those events had on the outcome of the War.
Standards:
ISTE NETs
1. Creativity and innovation
c. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
American History
Concept 6: Civil War and Reconstruction
PO 2. Identify the reasons why the following were important events of the Civil War:
a. firing on Ft. Sumter
b. major battles
d. surrender at Appomattox
Objectives:
1. During the simulation, students will use their knowledge of the Civil War to
answer questions about major events as well as the outcome of the war with an
overall score of at least 75%.
2. Students will fill out their American Civil War Worksheet exit ticket throughout the
simulation with 80% accuracy.
Materials:
Informational
American Civil War Worksheet exit ticket
Interactive
A computer for every student
http://www.activehistory.co.uk/Miscellaneous/menus/Year_9/american_civi

l_war/game/frameset.htm
Accommodations:

Cognitive delay
o Students with cognitive delay will have a goal of an overall score of 50%
by the end of the simulation. They will also fill out their American Civil War
Worksheet exit ticket throughout the simulation with 60% accuracy.
Gifted
o Gifted students will have a goal of an overall score of 90% by the end of
the simulation. They will also fill out their American Civil War Worksheet
exit ticket throughout the simulation with 90% accuracy.
ELL
o English language learners will receive guided instruction from the teacher
throughout the simulation. The teacher will read the questions to the
student as the student chooses the correct answer(s). ELL students will
have a goal of an overall score of 40% by the end of the simulation. They
will also will fill out their American Civil War Worksheet exit ticket
throughout the simulation with 50% accuracy.

Anticipatory Set/Hook:

The teacher will say, Today you are going to be President. Half of you will be
President Davis and half of you will be President Lincoln. As President during the
Civil War, you are going to have to make difficult decisions that your constituents
wont always agree with and your approval rating will reflect those decisions.
Your goal is to have an overall score of at least 75% when the simulation is
over.

Procedure:
1. The teacher will say, You are going to be involved in an interactive simulation

where you, as President, will choose the option that President Davis or President
Lincoln chose during their presidency. Your knowledge of the Civil War will either
boost or lower your approval rating. Once again, your goal is to have an overall
score of at least 75% when the simulation is over.
2. The teacher will say, Throughout the simulation, you will also be filling out an
exit ticket worksheet that goes along with the questions you will be answering
during the simulation.
- In the computer lab, every other student will be assigned to a President
and given the worksheet. Students will then be given the URL to go to and
begin the simulation while continuing to fill out their worksheets.
3. When students are finished with the simulation and worksheet, they will turn to

their computer lab partner (already assigned) and review their exit ticket worksheets
together to make sure they have the same answers.
Closure:

The teacher will say, Turn to your partner and tell them three new things you
learned about the Civil War during the simulation.
The students will tell their partner three new things they learned about the
Civil War during the simulation. The teacher will choose a few students to
share their answers with the class.
The teacher will say, Tell your partner whether or not you achieved an overall
score of 75%. Tell them why or why not. Its okay if you didnt because were all
still learning and thats why we did this simulation.
The students will tell their partner whether or not they achieved an overall
score of 75% and why or why not. The teacher will choose a few students
to share their answers with the class.
Students will turn in their exit ticket worksheets to the teacher to evaluate their
understanding of the subject knowledge.