22 Graphic Novels About Slavery and the Civil War for High Schoolers

Although I know of certain media specialists who think of graphic novels as comic books, they need to take another look. I have seen students excited to read graphic novels. After all, reading is reading, right? Here's a list of graphic novels that will get your students interested in reading....and they will learn in the process!

Action Presidents #2: Abraham Lincoln

The Battle First Bull Run:The Civil War Begins

Battle Lines: A Graphic History of the Civil War

The Battle of the Wilderness: Deadly Inferno

Big Bad Ironclad! A Civil War Steamship Showdown

The Bluecoats: Volume 3- The Skyriders- historical fiction

The Bluecoats: Volume 4- The Greenhorn- historical fiction

The Civil War: 1850-1876

Civil War Adventure: Book 1

The Crisis: Classics Illustrated Comic

Fight for Freedom: The Cartoon Chronicles of America

Gettysburg: The Graphic History of America's First Battle and the Turning Point of the Civil War

Grant vs Lee: The Graphic History of the Civil War's Greatest Rivals During the Last Year of the War

Guts and Glory: The American Civil War

A House Divided

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

The Life of Frederick Douglas:A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom

Point of No Return: Freedom's Run- historical fiction

Robert E. Lee: The Story of the Great Confederate General

True Stories of the Civil War

The Underground Abductor: An Abolitionist's Tale About Harriet Tubman

The Underground Railroad Adventure of Allen Jay, Anti-Slavery Activist

Educators Can Receive Free DVD of 12 Years a Slave!

Here's an offer for all history teachers: with your principal's approval, you can register to receive a free DVD of the movie 12 Years a Slave. Included in your education packet will be a printed study guide, a copy of the Penguin paperback and a letter from director Steve McQueen. Note: the movie has been edited but parental approval is suggested. Teachers can register HERE.

UPDATED: Nelson Mandela: 36 Resources, Infographics and Lesson Plans on the Man Who Stood Up to Apartheid

Yesterday, the world lost an incredible leader. Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon who fought for the rights of the South African black people, passed away yesterday at the age of 95. Below you will find teaching resources on Mandela's life and the anti-apartheid movement. You can also use the apartheid pathfinder I set up for my students HERE. I have included a section below on lesson plans on apartheid.

The Evolution of Nelson Mandela- CNN

He is Now at Peace- NBC News Slideshow

History.com- articles about Mandela




The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela- PBS' Frontline

Mandela's Death Leaves South Africa Without its Moral Center- NY Times

The Mandela Playlist: A Life and Legacy Told Through Music- from NPR

Mandela and the Politics of Forgiveness- from the New Yorker



Nelson Mandela Biography- from Bio.com





The Nelson Mandela Foundation

The Nelson Mandela Museum

Nelson Mandela Quotes





Nobel Peace Prize Site- Nelson Mandela Biographical

NPR: An Audio History of Nelson Mandela

Time- Remembering an Icon of Freedom

NELSON MANDELA INFOGRAPHICS
Facts About His Life

Infographic in Spanish (La Vida de Nelson Mandela)

Life and Times

Timeline of Key Events in the Life of Nelson Mandela


LESSON PLANS ON APARTHEID
Apartheid in South Africa- lesson for grades 9-12

Apartheid Lesson Plan- for grades 11-12

BrainPop Educators- apartheid lesson for younger students

End of Apartheid- printable from TeacherVision

ESL Printables on Apartheid

Slavery, Society and Apartheid- lessons from Discovery Education

South Africa Story: Apartheid, Diamonds and Gold- from  PBS Thirteen

A Teach-In on Apartheid in South Africa- NY Times Learning Library

Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela- use the lesson plan with the film, Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela

South Africa After Ten Years of Freedom- from PBS NewsHour