Students were split into groups and assigned to research either Southern slavery or Northern racism during the Civil War era. They had to build a thought process tree connecting their topic to related historical events and issues, such as connecting Southern slavery to the cotton plantation system, states' rights, and the Civil War. The activity aimed to test students' background knowledge and get them thinking critically about how these topics still have ramifications today.

1. 88thth
Grade Topic TreeGrade Topic Tree
ProjectProject
Civil War Unit:Civil War Unit:
Dissecting Southern Slavery andDissecting Southern Slavery and
Northern RacismNorthern Racism

2. Project Objective:Project Objective:
Students were separated into collaborative groups andStudents were separated into collaborative groups and
assigned one of two topics: Southern Slavery orassigned one of two topics: Southern Slavery or
Northern Racism as a starting talking point. StudentsNorthern Racism as a starting talking point. Students
then had to work collectively to build a “Thoughtthen had to work collectively to build a “Thought
Process Tree” using that starting point, an exampleProcess Tree” using that starting point, an example
would be:would be:
SOUTHERN SLAVERY-COTTON-PLANTATIONSOUTHERN SLAVERY-COTTON-PLANTATION
SYSTEM-STATES RIGHTS-CIVIL WAR-ETC.SYSTEM-STATES RIGHTS-CIVIL WAR-ETC.
This activity was used as a Unit Introduction to testThis activity was used as a Unit Introduction to test
students background knowledge and also to get themstudents background knowledge and also to get them
critically thinking about a real world issue that has hadcritically thinking about a real world issue that has had
ongoing current ramifications for today's society.ongoing current ramifications for today's society.

3. Southern Slavery:Southern Slavery:

4. Southern Slavery:Southern Slavery:

5. Southern Slavery:Southern Slavery:

6. Northern Racism:Northern Racism:

7. Northern Racism:Northern Racism: