Decisions in War

This worksheet engages students in moral and critical reasoning through key decisions faced by characters in Across Five Aprils. Learners evaluate whether each character’s choice-such as Bill’s decision to fight for the Confederacy or Jethro’s responsibility at home-was justified or not. They must support their reasoning with text evidence, fostering evidence-based argumentation and empathy for differing viewpoints. This task develops ethical reasoning, close reading, and debate preparation skills while connecting literature to broader themes of loyalty, duty, and personal belief.

Curriculum Matched Skills

English Language Arts – Reading Literature: Character Motivation and Conflict

English Language Arts – Supporting Opinions with Evidence

English Language Arts – Critical Thinking and Ethical Reasoning

Social Studies – Understanding Moral Dilemmas During the Civil War

This worksheet is part of our Across Five Aprils collection.