Looking for classroom resources and ideas for teaching the American Civil War? In anticipation of the Civil War’s 150th anniversary, Teachinghistory.org’s History Education News (a bi-annual publication that provides K-12 educators with classroom resources, tools, and teaching methods) is exploring the causes, events and impact of this defining moment in American history. In this latest issue you will find:

• Web site reviews, including a web site of freedmen’s letters, featuring fugitive slave John Boston’s letter to his wife who was still in bondage.
• Video of a fourth grade class analyzing the song John Brown’s Body to learn about Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, reactions to the raid and the coming of the Civil War.
• A lesson plan review about Civil War photography.
• Links to booklists and other resources in response to a teacher’s question about military history resources in “Ask a Master Teacher.”

To request a copy or multiple copies of this free publication, visit teachinghistory.org/node/23853 or call toll-free (866) 539-8381.

Past Issues
For past issues of History Education News, and the resources they include, see Teachinghistory.org’s collection of PDFs online.

You’ll explore maps in History Education News volume 5, find a look at social issues in volume 4, consider material culture in volume 3, and study presidential issues in volume 2 (volume 1 is not available online).

This post first appeared on AHA Today.