Educational Projects for Kids
Everyone who lived in Arkansas between 1861 and 1865 was impacted by the Civil War, regardless of wealth, race, or social class. One way to understand life during the Civil War is to consider the everyday items that soldiers and civilians used during the conflict. This portion of our website offers several craft projects that can help kids learn about life during the war by recreating these objects. Parents and teachers will find stories about how each item affected Arkansans, along with step-by-step instructions explaining how to create each object.
Make Your Own Regimental Flags:
Regimental flags were very important to both soldiers and civilians during the Civil War. Learn about two battle flags in the collection of the Old Statehouse Museum and how to make your own.
Make Your Own Underground Railroad Lantern:
The Underground Railroad, a term used to describe the paths that slaves often took to freedom before the Civil War, was alive and well in Arkansas. Learn about one boy's journey North toward freedom and learn how to make your own Underground Railroad lantern.
Make Your Own Zouave Fez:
Not every soldier in the Civil War wore Union blues or Confederate grays. Learn about Zouave soldiers in Arkansas and how to make your own Zouave uniform hat or "fez."
Make Your Own Fan:
Women were essential to the Civil War in Arkansas. They managed farms while their husbands or sons fought, they kept the soldiers clothed and some of them even disguised themselves as men so they could join the fighting. One symbol of women's lives in the 19th century was the practical and fashionable fan. Learn about women's roles in the Civil War in Arkansas and learn how to make your own fan.
Make Your Own Ink:
Learn how Civil War soldiers communicated with their loved ones, even when staples like paper and ink were scarce.
Making Civil War Food:
Eating right was a big challenge for Civil War soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Learn how to make two staples of the war, hardtack and Johnny cake.
Suggested Books for Children Learning About the Civil War
These books, fiction and non-fiction, have been suggested by educators and others as appropriate for children K-12 who want to learn about the Civil War era. Please let us know of any other titles that should be added to this list.
Aaronson, Billy. Ulysses S. Grant.
Anderson, Maxine. Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself.
Bobrick, Benson. Battle of Nashville.
Burgan, Michael. Hot Iron.
Calkhoven, Laurie. Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863.
Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage.
Ernst, Kathleen. Hearts of Stone.
Forten, Charlotte. A Free Black Girl Before the Civil War:The Diary of Charlotte Forten, 1854.
Hemphill, Michael, and Sam Riddleburger. Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run.
Hughes, Pat. Seeing the Elephant.
Hunt, Irene. Across Five Aprils.
Keith, Harold. Rifles for Watie.
King, David C. and Cheryl Kirk Noll. Civil War Days: Discover the Past with Exciting Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes
Moss, Marissa, and John Hendrix. Nurse, Soldier, Spy.
Murphy, Jim. Savage Thunder.
Myers, Laurie. Escape by Night.
Nardo, Don. Nation Divided.
Philbrick, Rodman. True Adventures of Homer P. Figg.
Poe, Marshall. House Divided.
Price, Sean Stewart. Nation Torn Apart.
Polacco, Patricia. Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln.
______. Pink and Say.
Porter, Connie Rose. Meet Addy: An American Girl; Addy Learns a Lesson; Happy Birthday, Addy!; Changes for Addy; Addy's Surprise; Addy Saves the Day.
Rinaldi, Ann. Leigh Ann's Civil War.
Roche, Tim. Soldiers of the Civil War.
Rosenberg, Aaron. Civil War.
Silvey, Anita. I'll Pass for Your Comrade.
Stark, Ken. Marching to Appomattox.
Vander Hook, Sue. Civil War Spy: Elizabeth Van Lew.
Wells, Rosemary. Red Moon at Sharpsburg.
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