Myth Busting the Civil War s is a high-engagement Civil War stations activity where students analyze primary sources, secession documents, Northern Black Laws, and slaveholding data to uncover the facts behind three common myths about the Civil War. This interactive station activity gives students hands-on practice with document analysis, historical reasoning, and data interpretation, making it an excellent DBQ social studies lesson for high school.
 
Working with real evidence—speeches, laws, charts, and math-based census data—students evaluate claims, compare sources, and decide whether each myth is supported or busted. The lesson ends with a myth-busting chart that requires students to cite primary sources and defend their conclusions, reinforcing evidence-based thinking and critical analysis skills.
 
Grades: 9-12
Skills Developed: Source analysis, critical thinking, data interpretation, historical reasoning
Duration: 1 class period
 
What’s Included:
Three Station Packets: Secession documents, northern discriminatory laws, and slaveholding data for student analysis.
Student Worksheet: Station questions, math problems, and a final myth-busting chart for evidence-based conclusions.
Teacher Guide: Clear setup instructions, lesson flow, and tips for running the stations effectively.
Answer Key: Complete responses for station questions, math calculations, and myth-busting conclusions.
Printable Cover Pages & Images: Civil War–themed visuals for classroom display or station headers.