About the As It Was! series: As It Was! is an interdisciplinary approach to various periods in history. Students learn about the people, places, and issues of the world's past through the multicurricular activities in language arts, social studies, science, math, and the arts. Each book is divided into 3 major units, each with 9 sub-topics. With the exception of Exploration Discovery Encounter, the units are Issues, People, and Places. Each topic includes background information and 5 interdisciplinary activities. In addition, an introductory activity and an open-ended culminating activity are offered for each of the 3 units.

THE CIVIL WAR: Issues include Underground Railroad, States' Rights, Economy, Slavery, Missouri Compromise, Secession, Inventions, and others. People include J. Brown, Commanders, M.E. Walker, "Rebel Rose," Barton, Douglass, Black Soldiers, and others. Places include Ft. Sumter, Antietam, Gettysburg, Atlanta, Prisoner of War Camps, Appomattox Court House, and others.