A Soldier's Life for Me

As we delve into the Civil War, we have been analyzing what life was like for soldiers during the Civil War through many different activities. First, we began our novel study on "Soldier's Heart" by Gary Paulson. Through this piece of historical fiction, which is based on a real character, Charley Goddard, we see the horrors of war through the eyes of a 15 year old. We studied characterization, setting, plot elements, figurative language, theme, and created higher order thinking questions to spur discussion in small groups.

We researched the involvement of Irish immigrants and their role during the Civil War on both the Union and Confederate sides. Using a unique primary source, Irish music and lyrics, we learned about what life was like for soldier's on the battle field as well as the long days at camp. Great songs to study include "Irish Volunteer" "Boys in Blue" "Paddy's Lamentation". Recognizing the importance of music to humans throughout time, students then created a "modern playlist" for different characters during the Civil War. You snag this great activity from High Mountain History HERE on tpt.

**Using electronic devices and headphones in the classroom went down as a win for the kids :)

To learn more about everyday life, students role-played as Civil War soldier. Part of the game was choice, part of the game was luck. This AMAZING game can be purchased from Brainy Apples HERE on tpt.

This game allowed students to realize that a soldier's life consisted mainly of waiting in camp for the next battle. During this time, soldiers had different methods of helping keep the boredom at bay including singing, whittling, gambling/smoking/drinking, patrolling, "Farming" for food and supplies in local towns, writing letters, and getting SICK. Over half of the casualties from the Civil War came from infection and sickness than they did from combat.

Writing letters was not only important for the soldier's and their families during the war, it is also one of the reasons that we know so much about the war today. We annotated one of the most famous, AND MY FAVORITE! Civil War letters, written by Sullivan Balou to his wife. Afterward, students got into character and wrote a letter home to either a sweetheart, wife/husband, son/daughter, mom/dad. For a great letter activity check out Instructomania's lesson HERE on tpt.

I was SO proud of these 7th and 8th grade kiddos, they really took these characters to heart and wrote beautiful words! Teacher heart full.

Causes of the Civil War

Another Vocabulary review activity that is SUPER simple but requires student thought, opinion, analyzing, and reflection. 

Much of what we have been studying has been building to the Civil War. Wars never start because of one, isolated incident or issue, they are a result of building bitterness and resentment. 
Today, we reviewed the different events we have been studying: 
Missouri Compromise of 1820
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1850 ("Bleeding Kansas")
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1859)
John Brown's Raid / Nat Turner's Slave rebellion
Harriet Beecher Stowe's narrative "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Fugitive Slave Laws
Dred Scott Supreme Court Discussion
Lincoln's inaguration in 1860 
The kids worked together in groups to order these events in order from "most significant" and "least significant" in causing the Civil War. It was interesting to see their different opinions on what they felt would have been the straw that broke the camels back. That is the really cool thing about history, it is all about interpretation, we all view issues differently. 
If you are interested in these review cards, they are available, with the reflection sheet, HERE at my TPT store. 
After working as a group, students had the opportunity to reflect on which event they felt, personally, had the greatest impact and why. 

We then watched a 30 minute clip from THE Civil War documentary - Ken Burns "The Civil War" concerning the causes of the Civil War. Students answered some video reflection questions, then analyzed the information presented by sharing strengths and weaknesses that they saw in the film.