Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024
The Emancipation Proclamation (1862)
Grade Level: This lesson plan is intended for High School U.S. History, ideally 8th or 9th grade.
Subject: Social Studies
Time Allotment: One class period (approximately 50 minutes)
Learning Objectives:
- Students will be able to explain the historical context of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- Students will be able to analyze the purpose and limitations of the document.
- Students will be able to discuss the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the Civil War and the fight for abolition.
- Students will be able to consider the legacy of the document and its ongoing relevance.
Materials:
- Whiteboard or projector
- Markers or pens
- Handouts with primary source excerpts (Emancipation Proclamation text, quotes from historical figures)
- Map of the United States during the Civil War (optional)
Lesson Procedure:
- Introduction (10 minutes):
- Begin with a brief activation activity. Show an image of the Emancipation Proclamation or read a short excerpt. Ask students what they know about the document and why it might have been issued.
- Historical Context (15 minutes):
- Lecture or class discussion about the early years of the Civil War (focusing on 1862).
✵ Key points to consider: initial Union goals (preserving the Union), increasing pressure for abolition.
- Briefly introduce Abraham Lincoln and his evolving views on slavery during the war.
- Primary Source Analysis (20 minutes):
- Divide students into small groups.
- Provide each group with a handout containing excerpts from the Emancipation Proclamation and quotes from various historical figures (e.g., Frederick Douglass, Confederate leaders).
- Task students with analyzing the document and the quotes:
✵ What are the key provisions of the Emancipation Proclamation?
✵ Which states were exempted and why?
✵ How did different people react to the Proclamation (abolitionists, enslaved people, Confederates)?
- Impact and Legacy (15 minutes):
- Class discussion based on the primary source analysis:
✵ How did the Emancipation Proclamation change the course of the Civil War?
✵ What were the limitations of the document?
✵ How did it impact enslaved people in the Confederacy and the Union?
- Briefly discuss the legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation:
✵ As a turning point in the fight for abolition.
✵ As a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality.
Differentiation:
- Provide scaffolding for primary source analysis by offering guiding questions or a graphic organizer.
- Allow students to choose a specific historical figure to research and present their perspective on the Proclamation.
- Offer alternative assessment options, such as creating a timeline of key events leading up to and following the Emancipation Proclamation or writing a letter from the perspective of an enslaved person.
Extension Activities:
- Students can research the role of African Americans in the Civil War (e.g., the 54th Massachusetts Regiment).
- Compare and contrast the Emancipation Proclamation with other key documents in American history related to slavery (e.g., the Fugitive Slave Act, the 13th Amendment).
- Watch a short film clip depicting the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on enslaved people.
Assessment:
- Participation in group discussions and primary source analysis
- Short exit ticket reflection on the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation
- Optionally, a one-page essay analyzing the document's impact on the Civil War