Whether it is called the Civil War, the War between the States, the War of the Rebellion, or the War for Southern Independence, the events of the years 1861–1865 were some of the most traumatic in the nation’s history.
Mission US has some interesting interactive games from different periods of history. This is the one related to the Civil War. I walked through it with some students once and they had lots of good questions at the end. http://www.mission-us.org/pages/landing-mission-2
The Civil War Causes stations lesson is a perfect lesson to teach all the causes of the Civil war in one 50 minute class period. I have my students spend 6-8 minutes a station. There is 
also an extra two page homework assignment if they finish a station early. Stations lesson includes coloring, notes, cartoons, video, and primary documents.
The Battles of the Civil War Scavenger Hunt can be used as an introduction or review activity. You can use the Battles of the Civil War as task cards, a scavenger hunt or both. Students will learn about Civil War leaders like Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, George Meade and many others. The Scavenger Hunt is designed so that students must visit each of the ten Civil War Fact Cards at least two times! That means they have to read the small passage or skim for details twice! Students will use non-fiction social studies content to practice reading skills, improve fluency and reading comprehension. Also included are 10 ideas for how to use task cards! The possibilities are endless for this cross-curriculum activity! This engaging activity covers the following Battles of the Civil War: Fort Sumter, Bull Run, Ironclads, Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Gettysburg and Spotsylvania.
Here are some wonderful resources for teaching about the Civi War:
- Here is a wonderful video on the Gettysburg Address. It’s short and right to the point. It is the perfect video for teaching about the Gettysburg Address.
- NEH The American Civil War
- Civil War Music is a wonderful way to teach about the Civil War from the Library of Congress.
- The Pen is mightier than the sword when using sketches in the classroom from the Library of Congress