• Multiple angles on a Civil War turning point
  • Beyond dates and data to questions and connections
  • Adding facts from then to what we know now


TeachersFirst's Gettysburg by the Numbers: The Big Picture

To fully appreciate the Battle of Gettysburg, you need to start with the basics. This collection of TeachersFirst Editors’ Choice resources related to the Civil War -- and specifically the Battle of Gettysburg -- will give you the BIG Picture about the battle. Take the time to collect the basics, and then go back to the starting page and dive into the Numbers. You will never see history the same way again.  

Use this collection of educator-reviewed resources, along with this printable pdf to discover:

Who? Who were the armies involved? Why were they fighting? Who were their leaders?  

When? What were the dates of the battle? How does this fit into the overall timeline of the Civil War?

Where? Where is Gettysburg? How far is it from Washington DC?  From Virginia? What is important about this location compared to other battles of the Civil War (Hints: whose “territory” is it part of? How far north, south, east. or west of other battles?)  

What? What happened at Gettysburg? List information about the days leading up to the battle, each day of the battle, and immediately after the battle. Include any important events during the battle, such as Pickett’s Charge.  

Why? Why do historians single out the Battle of Gettysburg from other battles of the Civil War? Why is it important or different?  

What else? What factors lead to the results of the battle? What happened in Gettysburg approximately four months later? Why was that November event important?  

Browse the reviewed resources below, or return to the starting page to begin exploring the numbers.

 

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African-American Soldiers in the Civil War - Library of Congress

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6 to 12
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The Library of Congress demonstrates the depth of its archival image and documents collection in this site, which records first-hand accounts of the accomplishments and difficulties...more
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The Library of Congress demonstrates the depth of its archival image and documents collection in this site, which records first-hand accounts of the accomplishments and difficulties of African-American soldiers during the Civil War. Although rather "plain vanilla" this site is definitely one to explore if you or one of your students are interested in the Civil War.

tag(s): africa (137), african american (109), civil war (133), lincoln (59)

In the Classroom

The site could be the basis for dozens of lesson ideas, as well as an ideal starting point for a research paper. Have students view authentic letters from Abraham Lincoln on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge students to write a letter (or a blog) in response to Lincoln's letter.

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Battle of Gettysburg - Esri.com

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6 to 12
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View an interactive map and timeline of decisive moments of the Battle of Gettysburg. Click on each numbered event to view the location on the map. Display the map in ...more
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View an interactive map and timeline of decisive moments of the Battle of Gettysburg. Click on each numbered event to view the location on the map. Display the map in either satellite or historical view. Each event includes links to a panoramic view of the area along with a short description of events taking place and important figures in the battle. View the sources link for a PDF including maps and atlases used for research.

tag(s): civil war (133), gettysburg (15)

In the Classroom

Explore the map and timeline on your interactive whiteboard with your class. Use the sources PDF and this page from TeachersFirst's Gettysburg by the Numbers to find additional Civil War and Gettysburg information. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students explore the map independently or in small groups. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Use information from this site and have students create their own battle timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Civil War 150 - Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

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4 to 12
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Civil War 150 is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The site includes...more
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Civil War 150 is part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The site includes online exhibits, videos, educational resources, and blog posts. Choose from any topics to explore links that include images, photographs, and short essays.

tag(s): 1800s (72), civil war (133), lincoln (59)

In the Classroom

Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about a Civil War soldier or important person from that time. Enhance learning by having students create timelines of Civil War events (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Civil War Interactive Poster - TeachingHistory.org

Grades
6 to 12
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The Civil War Interactive Poster uses historical images and primary source documents as an entry point for conversation about this period in American History. Click on any of the four...more
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The Civil War Interactive Poster uses historical images and primary source documents as an entry point for conversation about this period in American History. Click on any of the four quadrants to view items up close. Click on any asterisk within a quadrant for links to further images, related learning, and teaching resources. Each asterisk also contains a question to begin thoughtful conversations about the images.

tag(s): civil war (133), emancipation proclamation (11), gettysburg (15), history day (40), lincoln (59), slavery (75)

In the Classroom

This site is perfect for students to emcee on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Open up each quadrant to view images and documents provided. Have students discuss their reactions and thoughts on each of the representations before clicking on the asterisk to find specific information. Use the teaching resources and ideas provided to add context to Civil War lessons. Challenge students to create a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can be used to explain information provided by one of the images. Use a site such as Blabberize, reviewed here. Blabberize allows you to add speech and annotate images. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Vecteezy, reviewed here. Challenge your students to use a site such as Timeline Infograhics Templates, reviewed here, to create an interactive timeline of information from this interactive poster along with other information learned during your Civil War unit. With Timeline Infographics Templates you can include text, images, and collaboration.

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Civil War Time-Line - A Nation Divided - The History Place

Grades
4 to 12
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This site, created by The History Place offers a chronological listing of Civil War events (with pictures) and is easy to navigate. This site features topics such as Fort Sumter...more
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This site, created by The History Place offers a chronological listing of Civil War events (with pictures) and is easy to navigate. This site features topics such as Fort Sumter Attacked, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and several others. The timeline format is easy to understand. The photos are authentic and informative.

tag(s): civil war (133), lincoln (59)

In the Classroom

Use this site for research about the Civil War. Have cooperative learning groups research various battles of the Civil War. Or have students create their own interactive timelines using a tool such as Preceden, reviewed here.

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Civil War Trust - Civil War Trust

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6 to 12
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The Civil War Trust website is a comprehensive collection of all things related to the Civil War. Find battlefields by searching by state, year, or name of the battle. Each ...more
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The Civil War Trust website is a comprehensive collection of all things related to the Civil War. Find battlefields by searching by state, year, or name of the battle. Each battle listed includes a short recap with pertinent information such as dates, union and confederate commander names, number of forces engaged, casualties, and end result. Links to maps and other articles are also included. There are lists of sites offering many lesson plans for elementary through high school level, a glossary of civil war terms, links to primary sources, coloring book and crossword puzzle pages, and overviews of the Civil War. The student section contains links to photos, books for kids, and websites geared towards kids. Be sure to also check out the links to photos, battle apps, news, and more located under the site title at the top of the home page. Another great portion of the site is the gallery of pictures in 3-D. Click the link provided to receive a free pair of 3-D viewing glasses! There is so much more to see on this site. It is a must-see for anyone interested in Civil War resources.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): battles (18), civil war (133), emancipation proclamation (11), gettysburg (15), gettysburg address (11), Juneteenth (22), lincoln (59), slavery (75)

In the Classroom

Bookmark and save this site as an excellent resource for Civil War materials. Display different battle information on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector to discuss as a class. Share this site with students to use as a resource for class projects. Ask them to collect facts and resources using a bookmarking tool such as Wakelet, reviewed here. Have students use a mapping tool such as Google Earth, reviewed here, to create an audio (and visual) tour of pertinent battle sites. Challenge your students to use a site such as Sutori, reviewed here, to create an interactive timeline of important battles. With Sutori you can include text, images and collaboration. Have students make a multimedia presentation using Genial.ly, reviewed here.

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Field Musicians of the Civil War - tapsbugler (Jari Villanueva)

Grades
5 to 12
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Experience images of the Civil War musicians accompanied by authentic fife and drum music of the times. As the caption explains, "Fifers drummers and buglers provided the beat to everyday...more
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Experience images of the Civil War musicians accompanied by authentic fife and drum music of the times. As the caption explains, "Fifers drummers and buglers provided the beat to everyday life of the soldier." The creator of this video is a self-described Taps Historian and Bugler. If your district blocks YouTube, then this may not be viewable.

tag(s): civil war (133), video (256)

In the Classroom

Play the music and video during an intro to your Civil War unit to grab the attention of auditory learners. Inspire students to find out why music was far more than entertainment for soldiers. Challenge students to learn more about music and other communication tools during the Civil War in TeachersFirst's Gettysburg by the Numbers.

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Gettysburg Address on PBS - Adam Gault

Grades
6 to 12
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Our students are accustomed to having both audio and video content to the information they access. Consequently, just reading something like the Gettysburg Address can seem dry and...more
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Our students are accustomed to having both audio and video content to the information they access. Consequently, just reading something like the Gettysburg Address can seem dry and sterile to them. This video provides both a rich reading of Lincoln's famous speech, but an accompanying video track to illustrate it. Though the prelude is interesting, the actual speech starts at minute 3:29.

tag(s): civil war (133), gettysburg (15), gettysburg address (11), lincoln (59), presidents (120)

In the Classroom

For those who are not strong readers, the audio-video combination provided here may make the concepts in the Gettysburg Address more accessible. For other students, there may be deeper, more complex questions sparked by the video. Did the creator of the video capture the concepts authored by Abraham Lincoln adequately? This video could be the "jumping off place" for a variety of questions the class might consider or project ideas for individual students. How might you do it differently? What about other well-known speeches or documents? How would you illustrate them for a similar video? Challenge students to create their own video using FlexClip, reviewed here to accompany a famous speech and share the video using a site such as SchoolTube, reviewed here.

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Gettysburg by the Numbers - TeachersFirst

Grades
5 to 10
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Gettysburg by the Numbers (GBTN) is a web-based, interactive experience of the Battle of Gettysburg through numbers and infographics that raise questions and invite connections. Exploring...more
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Gettysburg by the Numbers (GBTN) is a web-based, interactive experience of the Battle of Gettysburg through numbers and infographics that raise questions and invite connections. Exploring Gettysburg "by the numbers" invites you to move beyond dates and facts to questions that make the battle more meaningful and real. Dig into the numbers to imagine the weather, the clothing, the communications, the people, the weapons, and--yes -- the cleanup from three devastating, pivotal July days in 1863. Delve into the infographics and accompanying questions to connect what was then with what is now. The site includes ideas for families and for teachers to use it in the classroom. Be sure to click on the large color image of the battle to get the "big picture." Teachers will want to explore the extensive "For Teachers" section that offers materials, lesson ideas, Common Core correlations, and much more.

tag(s): civil war (133), gettysburg (15)

In the Classroom

Gettysburg exemplifies many aspects of the Civil War experience and of U.S. life during the 1860s. Use this resource as a whole class introduction to the Civil War or specifically to the Battle of Gettysburg. Extensive teacher materials include downloadable and customizable handouts for students to "get the basics" about the battle or extend their understanding through small group or individual projects on battle-related topics that interest them. Coordinate with your math teacher to reinforce concepts of proportion, percent, ratio, and graphing with real data about Gettysburg. Differentiate for your students by helping them select from more concrete or more open-ended "questions" included with each detail about the battle. You can make this a one-day "quick tour" or a week long journey. Find project ideas included in these questions. There is even a customizable project rubric in the teacher materials. Be sure to share this link on your class web page for curious students (and families) to explore on their own outside of class!

Comments

Excellent resource for research Arthur, TX, Grades: 0 - 12

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Maps ETC - Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse

Grades
6 to 12
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This site offers over 5000 maps from various times throughout history and includes ALL continents and many individual countries. With the advent of satellite technology, it's simple...more
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This site offers over 5000 maps from various times throughout history and includes ALL continents and many individual countries. With the advent of satellite technology, it's simple to get a current map of any area on the globe, sometimes down to the street level. What's more challenging is getting digital copies of historical maps, larger political maps, or reproducible maps. Maps ETC gives you access to maps of the world, browsible by continent. Maps ETC includes current maps, but most importantly, historical maps. Want a map of 19th century pre-colonial Africa? It's here. A pre-Civil War US trade and migration map? Got that too. The site is easily searched by gallery or by entire database.

Maps are also available in PDF format so you can download and print for classroom use. Note however, the very specific terms of the license under which these maps are available. A limit of 25 maps can be used in a single project without special permission, and a link to Florida's ETC must be included when maps are used on websites. The license is clearly spelled out and would also serve as a good exemplar to use with students to teach them how to credit the resources they find on the internet.

tag(s): maps (208)

In the Classroom

Each of the maps is available as a GIF or JPEG file to use on an interactive whiteboard (or projector), or to insert in a document or website. Use this site for nearly any historical research project. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Musical Resources - The National Civil War Field Music School

Grades
6 to 12
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Discover the music of the Civil War as a real musician. This collection of sheet music links, Army guidebooks, and more are intended for re-enactor musicians who plan to "go ...more
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Discover the music of the Civil War as a real musician. This collection of sheet music links, Army guidebooks, and more are intended for re-enactor musicians who plan to "go to school" to become field musicians. See the importance of music as a communication tool before, during, and after a battle. You can even try your own hand at playing a drum cadence. Many of the files are Acrobat scans of original music. These are not "beginner" pieces, but a musician with moderate experience could play at least some of them. Clicking on the link to Other Resources and Links can lead you to some musical re-enactor videos on YouTube. See listings under Civil War Field Music/Fife and Drum Corps. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): civil war (133)

In the Classroom

Share this resource as a project option for your musical students during a unit on the Civil War. Share the site with your music or band teacher to collaborate on a Civil War Day event.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Poetry and Music of the War Between the States - civilwarpoetry.org

Grades
7 to 12
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Understand the thoughts and emotions of the men who fought in the Civil War through poetry and music of the time. Choose from Confederate or Union Poetry or Music of ...more
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Understand the thoughts and emotions of the men who fought in the Civil War through poetry and music of the time. Choose from Confederate or Union Poetry or Music of the War links. Listen to popular music of the day such as Oh! Susanna and My Old Kentucky Home. Explore poetry separated into categories including battles, soldier life, and the home front. Other options for exploring the site include searches by title, first lines, and authors.

tag(s): 1800s (72), battles (18), civil war (133), poetry (188)

In the Classroom

Include this site with your Civil War unit resources. Have students upload a photo they have taken and add voice bubbles to explain what they learned using a tool such as Phrase.it, reviewed here. Or challenge cooperative learning groups to use one of the many other multimedia presentation TeachersFirst Edge tools found here.

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The Civil War: Soldiers and Sailors Database - National Park Service

Grades
6 to 12
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This is your GO TO site for the Civil War. Here you will find information about sailors and soldiers, battles, monuments, and more! Scrol down the page and click battles ...more
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This is your GO TO site for the Civil War. Here you will find information about sailors and soldiers, battles, monuments, and more! Scrol down the page and click battles and search by battle name, state, or year. Find out the basics about each battle. There are also links to more information. Click on the Soldiers link to search for information about soldiers by state, side (Union or Confederate) or even by name! Click on the Sailors link to find more information about their important role (including records of about 18,000 African American sailors).

tag(s): africa (137), african american (109), battles (18), civil war (133)

In the Classroom

Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector. Demonstrate how to use this site for research about various topics involved in the Civil War. This site does require basic searching/research skills. Some pages include a lot of text, so be sure help your weaker readers and ENL/ELL students by sharing the vocabulary words prior to reading, either on a handout or by projecting on an interactive whiteboard and highlighting them in the text as you come to them.

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