VS.7 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the issues that divided our nation and led to
the Civil War by describing the roles played by whites, enslaved African Americans, free African
Americans, and American Indians.
Carbone, E., & Lewis, E.B. (2008). Night Running: How James Escaped with the Help
of His Faithful Dog. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Readability Level:
Second Grade (2.6) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book tells the true story of slave James Smith, who escaped slavery in the 1830s
through a dangerous night-time running journey and with help from his dog, Zeus,
who saves James when he is captured by two white men soon after running from his
masters farm.
Idea for Classroom:
The students will have a few days to create a written retelling of the story of James
Smith escaping slavery from the perspective of Zeus, James helpful companion.
Levine, E., & Nelson, K. (2007). Henry's Freedom Box. New York: Scholastic Inc.
Readability Level:
Second Grade (2.8) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This picture book tells the true story of Henry Brown, a slave during the 1840s, who
escaped slavery and headed north to Philadelphia by mailing himself in a box. This
book demonstrates to students ideas about slavery and slave auctions, the
Underground Railroad, and abolitionists in an engaging, reader-friendly text with
many detailed, relevant pictures.
Idea for Classroom:
This book can be used a read-aloud with a follow up discussion. I think it would be
good to talk to students about why he would have to go through all of this to gain his
freedom. We could also create a list of all the character traits Henry must have had to
have been able to go through all he went through on his quest for freedom.
Osborne, M. P. (2000). Civil War on Sunday. New York: Random House, Inc.
Readability Level:
Second Grade (2.2) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book describes the adventures of siblings Jack and Annie has they travel
back in time through the Magic Tree House. This time, they are taken back to the
time of the American Civil War, where they interact with wounded and fighting
soldiers and the famous nurse Clara Barton.
Ideas for Classroom:
This book can be used for a time of silent sustained reading, especially for fifth
grade students who are below grade level in reading.
Rappaport, D., & Evans, S. (2006). No More!: Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance.
Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Readability Level:
Fifth Grade (5.8) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book gives first hand accounts of African Americans and the troubles they went
through to fight for their freedom. This book is written in present tense to give the
reader the feeling like they are experiencing what horrific things people went through
to achieve something that should be given to everyone, freedom.
Idea for Classroom:
The students would write about what they would do if they were taking away from
their families and everything that they knew. They would have to include how they
would feel to be placed in a new environment with unfamiliar people.
Sheinkin, S. (2008). Two miserable presidents. United States: Roaring Brook
Press.
Readability Level:
Sixth Grade (6.3) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
In this book, the author backtracks from the Brooks-Sumner caning affair in 1856
to the beginning of the whole complicated string of events, including small, big,
and personal issues, that eventually led to the Civil War. Told through the true
stories of the soldiers and political figures that lived through it all.
Ideas for Classroom:
The students will create a script about the struggles of leading during the Civil
War written as either of the two miserable presidents: Abraham Lincoln or
Jefferson Davis. They will then use Chatterpix to record their script.
Winters, K., & Carpenter, N. (2008). Abe Lincoln: the Boy Who Loved Books.
New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers.
Readability Level:
Third Grade (3.5) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book emphasizes Abraham Lincolns love for learning and reading. The focus of
this book is Lincolns life during his formative years and how his determination led
him to become the sixteenth President of the United States of America.
Ideas for Classroom:
As a class we will have a discussion about Abraham Lincolns traits and
characteristics. There are multiple pages that we would focus on more than others,
like, Abe chopping down trees, him at his mothers gravesite, him at the cornfield,
and him at the auction. As we were discussing these pages in more detail the teacher
will use chart paper to record the conversation.
Extension Project: Have your students create a diorama of Abe Lincoln reading