A Free Slavery and Civil War Unit Study for Homeschoolers
Tackling a Civil War unit study with kids can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to discover one of the most pivotal times in American history.
When my children and I explored the Civil War and the complex topic of slavery, I wanted more than just dates and battles. I wanted them to understand the people, choices, and stories that shaped this era. Through living books, meaningful discussions, and hands-on activities, our unit study grew into a deeply impactful learning experience.
In this post, I’ll share how we approached sensitive topics like slavery in an age-appropriate way, the resources that helped us dive deeper, and the activities that made history come alive. I hope this gives you inspiration and practical tools to make this important history meaningful for your children.
This post contains affiliate links.
Slavery and Civil War Teaching Resources
You might remember a recent blog post about planning a large unit study. It encourages using the best ideas from many resources to meet learning styles and objectives.
While this study was mostly literature-based, some fabulous materials provided excellent lesson plans. By mostly literature-based, I mean we chose really good books and learned about the lives of slaves and the struggles of the Civil War. (Scroll to see the booklist.) Between living books, field trips, and hands-on projects from the resources below, there’s no better way to learn history!
The Underground Railroad for Kids: From Slavery to Freedom with 21 Activities (For Kids series)The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (For Kids series)
Civil War Days: Discover the Past with Exciting Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes
National Geographic Underground Railroad Interactive
Civil War Interactives for Kids
Eyewitness to History – Nice for Research
Slavery and Civil War Teaching Topics
Here’s the order in which our family covered the topics during the unit study.
- What is slavery?
- When did slavery begin?
- How did slavery begin in America?
- What was it like to be a slave in America?
- Who played significant roles in the abolition movement?
- What were the major events of the abolition movement?
- How did the Underground Railroad help slaves escape to freedom?
- Who were some of the key leaders of the Underground Railroad?
- What was the Civil War?
- For what reasons did the Civil War take place?
- Who were several significant figures of the war?
- What were several key battles of the war?
- How can the war be described in Kentucky (a divided state)?
- What is the Emancipation Proclamation?
- What was life in America like directly after the war?
- How did life change for former slaves after the war?
- What struggles did former slaves still face after the war and for many years to come?
- Where is slavery still taking place in today’s world?
Slavery and Civil War Living Books
These books brought the Civil War era to life with rich information, powerful emotions, and vivid storytelling. They genuinely help immerse children in the time period and spark meaningful conversations. After reading them, the understanding was deepened, and history felt more personal.
If you’re building your own Civil War unit study, I highly recommend each and every one of these titles—they’re the kind of books that leave a lasting impact.
Historical Fiction Slavery and Civil War Picture Books
Please note that even picture books about these sensitive topics can be emotional and may be best read with children 10 and older. It’s best to preread every book before sharing it with children.
Civil War and Slavery Biographies for Kids
Slavery and Civil War Chapter Books for Kids
How to Fit in More Reading During a Unit Study
I’ve been asked several times how we fit in all the literature we read for our units. Here’s the answer!
Fitting in a wide range of books during a unit study doesn’t have to be complicated. Audiobooks make it easy—turning car rides into extra reading time by listening to chapter books on the go.
At home, one or two chapter books can be read aloud throughout the unit, while others can be set aside for independent reading after a quick preview. Picture books still play a big role, too. They offer powerful storytelling and rich illustrations, and no one is ever too old for a great picture book!
A simple routine of 30–45 minutes of read-aloud time, 30–45 minutes of independent reading, and audiobooks during car rides makes it possible to enjoy a wide variety of books without overwhelming the schedule.
Slavery and Civil War Unit Study Projects
The final week of our Slavery and Civil War unit study was all about projects. The kids chose from various options to showcase what they had learned and spent the week bringing their ideas to life. At the end of the week, they presented their finished projects to the entire family—a highlight for me every time! Seeing their creativity, insights, and how much they absorbed always makes these moments extra special.
Project-based learning is a fantastic tool for families looking to tailor learning to each child’s unique interests, strengths, and learning styles. It encourages deeper thinking, creativity, and personal connection to the material while making learning more meaningful and fun. The homeschool masterclasses below can help you learn how to do just that!
The Independent Unit Study Project Choices
The week before “project week,” the kids received a project list with options designed to let them dive deeper into topics that sparked their interest. The goal was to encourage creativity while allowing them to showcase what they learned in different ways. Here’s what the list looked like:
- Step into History: Choose a famous slave, research their life, and present what you learned by speaking in first person. Don’t forget to create an authentic costume to bring your character to life.
- Battlefield Reenactment: Select a Civil War battle, build a battlefield model, and use it to reenact the key events. Share important details about the battle as you walk us through the action.
- Biography in a Folder: Pick a well-known Civil War figure and create a file folder biography. Include key facts, interesting stories, and pictures or illustrations to make the person’s life story stand out.
- The Gettysburg Address: Read or recite it, bringing attention to its meaning and importance during the Civil War.
These open-ended projects allowed them to research, create, and present in ways that matched their interests and learning styles—while making history personal and engaging.
Getting Started with Project Week
Start the week by heading to the library, where students can find books and resources to explore their chosen topics more deeply. Encourage them to explore both nonfiction and historical fiction to gain a well-rounded understanding.
Throughout the week, balance regular subjects like math with dedicated time for project work. Allow plenty of space for research and creativity.
A Peek Into Our Slavery and Civil War Project Night
Plan a special Friday evening presentation to wrap up project week. After dinner, gather the family and let each child present their project, sharing what they learned and showing off their creativity. Make it a relaxed, celebratory time—maybe even add a special dessert—to highlight their hard work and make the moment memorable.
Here’s a peek into my children’s projects from the week.
Step Into History Project
My daughter portrayed Harriet Tubman and my son became Henry “Box” Brown. Both of them did an excellent first-person presentation of their historical character.
Battlefield Reenactment Project
My daughter set up a model and explained the events of the Battle of Perryville, whichtook place not too far from us in Kentucky.
My son chose to reenact the Battle of Bull Run. They both gave detailed information and maps of their battles and even found photographs of the battle sites to share.
Biography in a Folder Project
My daughter’s biography report was about Ulysses S. Grant. The file folder template we used to create the reports was from Easy File Folder Reports. It’s a super-helpful tool to help children organize their research and thoughts.
My son’s biography report was about Robert E. Lee. He was very impressed with himself for finding pictures of Lee’s family, home, college, and more.
The Gettysburg Address Project
My daughter created little copies of the Gettysburg Address for each of us so we could follow along with her. The little one enjoyed his upside-down!
My son practiced and practiced reading the Gettysburg Address throughout the week. He didn’t miss a word on project night!
Slavery and Civil War Field Trips
I mentioned that our family took several field trips during the unit study. Two were especially enjoyable.
The Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH
National Underground Railroad Museum in Maysville, KY
And that brings us to the end of another history unit! Wrapping up a unit study always feels rewarding, especially after seeing the creativity, hard work, and deep understanding that shines through during project presentations.
Moments like these remind us how meaningful immersed learning and hands-on projects can be. With another chapter of history explored and so many valuable lessons learned, it’s time to look ahead to the next adventure!
Other Posts You May Enjoy
Homeschool Unit StudiesLiving Literature Booklists
Nature Study IS Science
Thanks for this. We are right in the middle of slavery and the Civil War and you gave me so many ideas. Definitely will visit Maysville museum. Had no idea it was there. Also visiting Rankin House in Ripley, Oh. Lucky it is so close.
The Parker House is also in Ripley, right on the river. We visited both houses two weeks ago, and Dewey, the guide, was a wonderful storyteller. I would recommend stopping there when you visit the Rankin House. We also want to go to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati, but haven’t made it there yet.
Ooh, I didn’t know about the Parker House, Celia! I will take your recommendation and ask specifically for Dewey. 🙂 Miss you girls!
Would you mind sharing what you used to create the clothes for the Harriet Tubman outfit?
Stephanie, my daughter created her costume from things found around the house. She is wearing one of her daddy’s button-down shirts and one of my aprons. I think the long skirt underneath was something from the dress-up bin. (I used to buy things at Goodwill that seemed fun for dress-up.) The costume was nothing fancy for sure! 🙂
This is fabulous!! Thank you for sharing. We are preparing for a Civil War Unit and I found some great ideas here.
Have fun with your study, Amy!
This looks amazing… I’m currently working on some reading plans for slavery… thanks for your incredible resources.
If I have impressed you, I have done well. LOL You know your stuff and I am always so impressed by what you come up with for your children!
I was curious if the order the books are listed in is the order you read them in?? Also- what other units did you use for history this same school year? Thanks so much!!
Ruth, the books are not listed in the order we read them. We read about slavery first, then moved into Civil War books. Most of the books in the top half of the list are about slavery, while most in the bottom half are about the Civil War. Don’t feel like you need to read all of them!
I believe the Slavery and Civil War study was one of our last studies that year. We began with units about Native Americans, Colonial Life, the American Revolution, and Westward Expansion. Our year ended with a study of our home state of Kentucky since so much of the history we had learned over the year could be revisited. You can find links to each of the units I mentioned on this page.
Thanks so much for getting back to me, Cindy! I know it’s been a while since you posted this. I appreciate you sharing the book list!!
You’re very welcome!
How long did your unit last? My daughter wants to build a unit on the Great Depression and I struggling a bit with the duration.
Karen, this particular unit study was one of our longest at 10 weeks. More typically, they last between 3-6 weeks, depending on the topic and how much material we’d like to include. The Great Depression could be covered in as few as 2-3 weeks if you just plan to hit the highlights. However, it could last upwards of 6-10 weeks if you really dig deep into pre-, during-, and post-depression and include lots of activities and reading.
Have you seen this little series on how I plan unit studies? https://ourjourneywestward.com/how-to-plan-a-unit-study/ Near the bottom of the post, you can find links to how I plan shorter vs. longer units. 🙂
We did a few units like this last year. This was so helpful. How long do you spend on a subject? What does it look like before project week?
Yes, they are so helpful, Eva! You’ve asked some great questions. I wrote a 4-part blog series that should answer them thoroughly. You’ll find the first post in the series at https://ourjourneywestward.com/how-to-plan-a-unit-study/. The other posts will be linked at the bottom of the first one. 🙂
Thanks for all the great book recommendations! FYI, two of your links posted near the top are not working – the Nat Geo Underground Railroad and Civil War for Kids. Looks like Nat Geo revamped their website for covid schoolers and killed all the links that existed before that. I’m going to keep poking around hoping to find it – sounds neat!
I fixed the links, Marie. Thanks for letting me know!