Civil War Webquest
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CIVIL WAR WEBQUEST by April Peacock Table of Contents Introduction Tasks Process for Activity 1 Process for Activity 2 Process for Activity 3 Process for Activity 4 Evaluation Conclusion Standards 5W/5E Webquest Integration References The ruins of Columbia, South Carolina as seen from the Capitol in 1865. Introduction The Civil War marked the history of the United States more profoundly than any other conflict in our history. The Civil War was the bloodiest conflict in American History. Families were pitted against one another, brother against brother, state against state. It caused tremendous economic and ideological hardships. It is estimated that three (3) percent of the population died during the civil war. Literature, photographic essays, video presentations, and historical documents influence our perspective of Civil War events. We will embark on a trip through time to experience the Civil War through the eyes of a soldier and a slave. We will experience war through battle and as if we are famous. And, finally, we will put ourselves in the shoes of a young Union drummer boy and imagine what would have happened to him if he had been from the Confederate states. Soldiers resting and reading letters from home after a drill in Petersburg, Virginia in 1864. Task Welcome to our Civil War exploration projects! We will spend the next few weeks reading Charley Skedaddle by Patricia Beatty and working on the tasks as outlined below. Each student will complete all four (4) activities; each activity will take about a week. The fourth activity will be completed with a partner. You will be assigned a partner as you progress through these activities. Throughout this Webquest you will find several website links; you should open them in a new window. It is always important to be conscious of spelling, grammar, and word choice as putting forth your best effort is as important as the Civil War was in defining our great nation. General Ulysses S. Grant leaning against a tree in front of a tent, Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1864. Activity One Imagine that you are a soldier in the Confederate or Union Army. You have walked for miles and are ready to prepare camp. Soon, you will be going into battle. What do you want to share with your family back home about your experience? What is the food like in the army? What do you sleep on? How are your clothes holding up? How are your shoes holding up? Why are you fighting in this war? Activity Two Leading up to and during the Civil War there were a number of famous leaders who emerged in our nation’s history. Who were they? How did they shape the Civil War and nation’s future? Who are the Presidents of the Civil War? Who are the Generals on the front lines in battle? Why are they the Generals and why are they fighting for the side they represent? For this activity you will create a PowerPoint slide show depicting some of these leaders. You should use at least six (6) leaders. General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia in April 1865. Activity Three Many slaves and former slaves were anxious for change in the South to occur. You will assume the role of a former slave and write a "Letter to the Editor" of The Baltimore Sun in Maryland and explain why it is important for slaves to be free. But first you must research who some of the slaves or former slaves are that are making headlines? What are they doing to get this attention? Why are they doing the things they are doing and is it making a difference? Activity Four Now that we have finished reading Charley Skedaddle by Patricia Beatty and you have finished Activities 1 - 3, it is time to reflect on the Civil War era. You and a partner will write a story and consider Charley as a Confederate soldier. You will use your knowledge of the Civil War and you should be historically conscious in your response. How would his experience have been different in the war? Would he have been a drummer boy? How would his experience with Granny have changed? What would have happened with Charley at the end of the war? Process for Activity One Imagine that you are a soldier in the Confederate or Union Army. You have walked for miles and are ready to prepare camp. Soon, you will go into battle. What do you want to share with your family back home about your experience? What is the food like in the army? What do you sleep on? How are your clothes holding up? How are your shoes holding up? Why are you fighting in this war? Allan Pinkerton, chief of General McClelland's secret service, with men at Cumberland Landing, Virginia on May 14, 1862. You will use researched information and write a letter home to your family about your experience as a soldier. Your letter should be typed in Microsoft Word. Use correct spelling, grammar, and vivid word choice. Be sure to look at the rubric for "Letter Home." Links: A variety of photos taken during the Civil War. How the Civil War Soldiers Lived. The Civil War Soldiers of 1863. Essays and Articles about the Civil War. The Civil War Armies. Uniforms of the Civil War. Camp Life during the Civil War. A Soldier's Life. Process for Activity Two Leading up to and during the Civil War there were a number of famous leaders who emerged in our nations' history. Who were they? How did they shape the Civil War and nations' future? Who are the Presidents of the Civil War? Who are the Generals on the front lines in battle? Why are they the Generals and why are they fighting for the side they represent? Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. You will research some of the famous leaders who emerged leading up to and during the Civil War. For this activity, you will create a power point slide show that depicts at least six (6) leaders leading to and/or during the Civil War era. You will need to include a picture of each person, describe why they are considered famous, and tell about their contributions to the Civil War. Some of the leaders you may choose from include: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, George McClellan, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, George Meade, William Tecumseh Sherman, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and John Brown. You will find a list of additional people in the first link. Links: A variety of photos taken during the Civil War. Some noteworthy people leading to and during the Civil War. Civil War photos of Union military leaders. Civil War photos of Confederate military leaders. Photos of Abraham Lincoln. Video about General Grants Tough Road to Success. Video about Abraham Lincoln. Video about abolition and the underground railroad. Video about more abolitionists and the underground railroad. Video about General Stonewall Jackson. Video about ending slavery. Video about General Robert E. Lee. Video about General Grant and General Sherman. Video about General Sherman’s' War Logistics. Process for Activity Three Black laborers on wharf at James River, Virginia. You will assume the role of a former slave. For this activity, you will research slaves and former slaves. Who are some of the former slaves making headlines? What are they doing to get this attention? Why are they doing the things they are doing and is it making a difference? Then, you will write a "Letter to the Editor" of The Baltimore Sun in Maryland describing why it is important to free the slaves. Links are listed below and you may use any other link found throughout this Webquest. Your article should be typed in Microsoft Word. Be sure to use correct spelling, grammar, and vivid word choice. Links: Video on abolitionists and the underground railroad. Video on the campaign to end slavery. A biography on Harriet Tubman. Another biography on Harriet Tubman. A biography on Frederick Douglass. An article about slavery during the Civil War. Process for Activity Four Now that we have finished reading Charley Skedaddle and you have finished activities 1 - 3, it is time to reflect on the Civil War era. You and a partner (assigned by your teacher) will write a story together and consider Charley as a Confederate soldier. You will use your knowledge of the Civil War and you should be historically conscious in your response. How would his experience have been different in the war? Would he have been a drummer boy? How would his experience with Granny have changed? What would have happened with Charley at the end of the war? A Union regimental fife and drum corp. Consider these questions, as well as the questions listed above: Would he have joined the army? If he had joined the army and met Granny, how would his experience with Granny have been different? What would Charley have done at the end of the war? You will be graded as a team. Your paper should be written in Microsoft Word. Be sure to use correct spelling, grammar, and vivid word choice. You may use any of the previous links to help you in your quest. Evaluation Students should be able to show knowledge about the Civil War. They should be able to answer basic questions regarding what life was like during the Civil War. What was camp life like for the soldiers? What kind of food did the armies eat while at war? What were some of the reasons slaves wanted to be freed? Who were some of the famous individuals leading up to and during the Civil War? What were the effects of the Civil War on the North? What were the effects of the Civil War on the South? Each activity will receive a separate grade, with the exception of Activity 4, which is to write a story about Charley being a Confederate soldier.