Words of War and Home

This vocabulary-focused worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6 and 7 to strengthen historical literacy, reading comprehension, and contextual understanding while studying Across Five Aprils. Learners match ten key Civil War-era terms-such as secession, abolitionist, and conscription-to their correct definitions, then apply the vocabulary in journal-style sentences that connect language, history, and the novel’s setting.

Learning Goals

• Vocabulary Development in Context (Grades 6-7)
  Students build understanding of historically accurate terms essential to the novel.
• Civil War Historical Literacy
  Learners connect vocabulary to real events, ideas, and conflicts of the era.
• Reading Comprehension Support
  Activities help students decode period-specific language encountered in the text.
• Applying Academic Vocabulary in Writing
  Journal-style sentences reinforce meaning through creative and contextual use.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA and history standards.
• Two-Part Learning Structure
  Matching builds recognition, while writing strengthens retention and application.
• Supports Cross-Curricular Instruction
  Integrates literature study with historical understanding of the Civil War.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for pre-reading support, review, homework, or vocabulary assessment.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Words of War and Home worksheet helps students better understand Across Five Aprils by building familiarity with essential Civil War vocabulary. By defining and applying historical terms, learners strengthen comprehension, contextual reasoning, and confidence reading historical fiction. Whether used in an ELA classroom, a social studies lesson, or a homeschool setting, this printable resource provides meaningful practice connecting language, history, and literature.

This worksheet is part of our Across Five Aprils collection.