Arkansas Civil War Drama Lesson Plan by Margaret Grimes 1998-1999 Butler Fellow Revised 2007-08 School Year Utilizing 2006 Social Studies Frameworks Including 2007 Arkansas History Amendments and 2007 School Library Media Frameworks In this lesson students will examine the impact of the Civil War on the economic, social, and political systems of Arkansas. After studying the Civil War, each student will research an assigned character from this era. Students will then write their parts and perform them together in a role-playing simulation. Grades: 7th – 12th Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks: Arkansas History Student Learning Expectations: SR.5.AH.7-8.5 Identify the contributions of noteworthy Arkansans during the Civil War period SR.5.AH.7-8.7 Identify the major Civil War battlefields in and near Arkansas SR.5.AH.9-12.5 Analyze the contributions of noteworthy Arkansans during the Civil War period SR.5.AH.9-12.7 Identify the major Civil War battlefields in and near Arkansas School Library Media Student Learning Expectations: A.4.7.1, A.4.8.1, A.4.9.1, A.4.10.1, A.4.11.1, A.4.12.1 – Use resources and/or technology tools for a predetermined task Related Encyclopedia of Arkansas Entries: Civil War through Reconstruction; Civil War Timeline; Patrick Ronayne Cleburne; Samuel Ryan Curtis; David O Dodd; Earl Van Dorn; Harris Flanagin; Thomas Carmichael Hindman; Isaac Murphy; Albert Pike; Henry Massie Rector; Fredrick Steele; David Walker; Slavery; Battle of Pea Ridge; Battle of Prairie Grove; Battle of Arkansas Post; Little Rock Campaign; Red River Campaign; Jayhawkers and Bushwackers Introduction: The teacher will select the appropriate student learning expectations for his or her class, review the key terms, and make copies of selected activities included in the lesson. Collaboration with the school library media specialist for assistance with the utilization of the technology resource tool for Arkansas History is suggested. See above links or visit the online Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture at http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. The school library media specialist can also make suggestions for other selections which are not listed in lesson plan. Materials: • Access to a computer lab A copy of the Characters in the Arkansas Civil War Drama for each student (included below) A copy of the Arkansas Civil War Drama Outline for each student (included below) Key Facts: Arkansas was host to many battles and skirmishes during the Civil War, including those at Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Arkansas Post, Little Rock, Poison Spring, Marks' Mill, and Jenkins' Ferry. Our state produced important military leaders, including Patrick Cleburne, Thomas Hindman, and Albert Pike. But the Civil War in Arkansas was much more than a series of battles and a group of leaders. It is important for students to understand the impact of the war on the economic, social, and political development of the state. By studying the well-known characters, as well as the more obscure, students will see a more complete picture of Arkansas during the Civil War. Background Information: The outline of this play uses the 2003 edition of An Arkansas History For Young People by Baker and Browning as its source; however, any textbook could be adapted for the activity. The page numbers are given as helpful hints for students to begin their research. They should also use a variety of other sources for additional information, including the Internet, films, and resource books. After students have researched and written their roles, they need to spend a little time with the other characters in their scene in order to have the parts work together nicely. Then, it is best if the teacher takes time to look over the students' work and make suggestions before the play is actually performed. This role-playing simulation was designed to be a cumulative activity that will enhance, as well as demonstrate, student learning through student involvement and interaction. Activities: PREPARATION As you begin to study Arkansas during the Civil War, assign each student a character from the Characters in the Arkansas Civil War Drama list (included below). (You may assign the parts randomly or according to students’ abilities and personalities.) Ask your students to pay special attention to their person as they study the Civil War in class. They need to take notes on this person during their readings, lectures, films, etc. PRODUCTION 1. After your class has studied the Civil War in Arkansas, ask each student to think about the character they were assigned at the beginning of the unit. Tell them they are going to write and perform their part in a “Civil War in Arkansas” drama. They are to gather information about their character and write their role based on the outline you will provide. 2. After distributing the Arkansas Civil War Drama Outline (included below), give students time to work on their part. Those in the same scenes may benefit from working together. Set a due date for your review of their work. 3. Have students hand in their work on the due date. Make suggestions for improvement on each and hand them back. 4. Set a date for the role-play drama, giving students enough time to make your suggested improvements. 5. Have students perform the drama. 6. For a closing activity have students write down what they have learned about three personalities in the play excluding the one they researched. Evaluation: 1. Assess the performance of students during the role-play simulation based on the requirements of their roles, as well as their closing activity work. 2. On a test of the Civil War Period, include an essay question for assessment—e.g., "Write the name of your character. Then write a short statement which he/she might give that reveals her/his actions and attitudes during the Civil War Era." 3. As a peer evaluation, ask each student to write a brief review of another student's role, consisting of several positives and one suggestion for improvement. Sources: Baker, T. Harri and Jane Browning. An Arkansas History for Young People. Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press, 2003. Baker, T. Harri and Judy Dalton, eds. The Arkansas News. The Old State House, Arkansas in the Civil War; Spring, 1997. "The Civil War in Arkansas" website at www.civilwarbuff.org∗ . Dougan, Michael B. Arkansas Odyssey: The Saga of Arkansas from Prehistoric Times to the Present. Little Rock: Rose Publishing, Inc., 1994. Edge of Conflict: Arkansas in the Civil War. Conway: AETN, 1995. See Butler Center Lesson Plans on Grif Stockley’s Book, Race Relations in the Natural State. These lesson plans are made possible in part through the support of the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Taylor Foundation (Little Rock, Arkansas) makes Butler Center lesson plans possible. Contact the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72201. 501-918-3056 www.butlercenter.org and www.cals.lib.ar.us ∗ To accesslinks, copy and paste into your browser. Characters in the Arkansas Civil War Drama 1. John C. Breckenridge - S 2. George Butler - S 3. Lewis Butler - S 4. James G. Blunt - N 5. Patrick Cleburne - S 6. Samuel R. Curtis - N 7. Jeff Davis - S 8. David O. Dodd - S 9. Earl Van Dorn - S 10. William Ellis - N 11. Harris Flanagin - S 12. William Wakefield Garner - S 13. Thomas C. Hindman - S 14. Robert E. Lee - S 15. Abraham Lincoln - N 16. Nathaniel Lyon - N 17. Ben McCulloch - S 18. Moses Mitchell - N 19. Isaac Murphy - N 20. N. B. Pearce - S 21. Albert Pike - S 22. Sterling Price - S 23. Henry Rector - S 24. Nancy Morton Staples - ? 25. Frederick Steele - N 26. James Totten - N 27. Mrs. Frederick Trapnall - ? 28. David Walker - S 29. nameless Arkansas civilian - ? 30. nameless Arkansas slave - N Arkansas Civil War Drama Outline Scene 1: Washington, D.C. Abraham Lincoln: explain the Republican Party’s ideals and the 1860 presidential election results (pp. 119-120). John C. Breckenridge: describe your political ideals and the 1860 presidential election results in Arkansas (pp. 119-120). Scene 2: Somewhere in the South Jeff Davis: describe the reaction of the South to Lincoln's election (pp. 120-121). Scene 3: Little Rock, Arkansas Governor Rector: describe your reaction to Lincoln's election (p. 120). James Totten: th describe the arsenal episode (p. 121). David Walker: report on the March 4 election (p. 121). Governor Rector: describe the reaction to Lincoln's request for volunteers (p. 122). David Walker: describe the May 6 convention; ask Murphy to change his vote (p. 122). Isaac Murphy: answer Walker (pp. 122-123). Mrs. Frederick Trapnall: describe your actions (p. 123). Scene 4: Wilson's Creek, Missouri N. B. Pearce: describe the three fighting groups (p. 125). Ben McColloch and Sterling Price: argue about tactics (p. 127). Nathaniel Lyon: describe the battle (p. 127). James Totten: describe your role in this battle (p. 127). N. B. Pearce: describe the outcome, including the death of Lyon (p. 127). Ben McColloch and Sterling Price: argue about post-battle actions (p. 128). Scene 5: Pea Ridge, Arkansas Samuel R. Curtis: describe actions against Price (p. 128). Ben McColloch and Sterling Price: argue again (p. 128). Earl Van Dorn: tell the story of the Battle of Pea Ridge, exclude the scalping episode and include the death of McColloch (pp. 128-130). Albert Pike: describe your experiences at Pea Ridge (pp. 129-130). Samuel R. Curtis: describe the victory at Pea Ridge; describe troop movements after the battle (pp. 128- 130). Scene 6: Little Rock, Arkansas Governor Rector: describe your reaction to Pea Ridge (p.