Text Set for Fifth Grade Virginia Studies Civil War Unit

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.

Fleischman, P. (1995). Bull Run. New York: HarperCollins Publishers LLC.

Readability Level:
Fifth Grade (5.9) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book tells the story and aftereffects of the first battle of Bull Run during the
Civil War. It is narrated by sixteen different voices and perspectives, including
differences in age, gender, side of the war, slave status, and soldier status in order
to allow readers to hear and understand different views of the great war.
Idea for Classroom:
After reading this book as a class, the students will pick a role (described by
name, age, gender, race, occupation, living location, and opinions on the war)
 from a drawing location. The students will each then write a paragraph
explaining how they are involved with and view the battle of Bull Run.

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.

Smith, L. (2014). Abe Lincoln's Dream. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Readability Level:
First Grade (1.4) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book follows are girl as she goes on a tour of the White House. While on this
tour she finds herself in Abe Lincolns bedroom, and even sees his ghost. Together
the girl and the ghost of Abe Lincoln go on a journey across the country to answer the
questions Abe Lincoln has and to get rid of the concerns that he has for the country
he gave his life to.
Idea for Classroom:
For older students:
Students can create a story about an adventure they would want to have with
Abraham Lincoln. The story would need to include a reason why Abe Lincoln
would go on this adventure and how it would get rid of his concern of what was
going on in the country. The students would need to complete a brainstorming
worksheet, a rough draft and a final draft.
For younger students:
Students can draw a picture of the adventure they would go on with Abraham
Lincoln and write 2-3 sentences about it.

Steele, W. O. (2004). The perilous road. United States: Horcourt Books.

Readability Level:
Fourth Grade (4.9) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book is about the Civil War and how it is viewed by Chris Brabson, a boy
from Eastern Tennessee, as his brother is fighting for the wrong side of the
Union.
Ideas for Classroom:
Students will put themselves in Chris Brabsons shoes and write about how they
must be feeling knowing their brother is fighting for the wrong side of the war.
This will also be persuasive writing piece where they will try to convince their
brother to fight for the side they believe is the right side.
Stille, D. R. (2013). The Civil War through photography. Chicago: Capstone
Library, LLC.
Readability Level:
Fourth Grade (4.2) (Flesch-Kincaid Leveling)
Summary of Text:
This book tells the story of the Civil War through primary pictures taken during
that time, allowing students to learn about the war from authentic sources.
Through reading the captions and notes along with examining the pictures from
the war, students will find out more about the leaders, soldiers, and civilians who
struggled through the war that divided a nation.
Idea for the Classroom:
The students will pick the picture that they liked the most of a leader, soldier, or
civilian who struggled through the war and find out more information about it.
They will find out who took the picture, what the picture represents, biography of
the person in the book. They will also compile other pictures that go along with
the photo from the book they chose to research and create a presentation to
present to the class. For example, if they choose a photo of a civilian who
struggled through the war they will need to first do research about that specific
civilian, but also find other civilians who were not mentioned in the book and
include them in their presentation.

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