Historian in Residence
Ms. Christy
Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.
Battles of The Civil War
The Unit on The Civil War as taught by Ms. Christy can vary depending on the amount of time available. Ms. Christy can bring all ten days of the Unit to your classroom, or she can bring just one, or she can suggest a shorter version. In addition to the Stories and Projects detailed below, each of these days includes a planned written or drawn element, created by the student so that, by the end, each student has a faux "Scrap Book" of The Civil War.

The Story

The Project

Day 1

America in 1860

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk.

An examination of the political and economic landscape of America at the edge of the Civil War, with a focus on Charleston and the election of 1860. The class learns how men and women dressed and talked on the eve of the Civil War. Then we walk and talk as if we had been there, dressed as they were.
Day 2
Fort Sumter and Bull Run

"Enemy Protector" Game
A close look at the details of the events leading up to the bombing of Fort Sumter. Then, using battle maps and images from the time, we discuss The First Battle of Bull Run/Manassus. Using a drama game in which alliances are established and then switched, we attempt to simulate the feelings of Americans whose loyalties were challenged by the Civil War.
Day 3

Daily Life of A Soldier

Soldier Drills
Using GLAD techniques, we look at the uniform, fighting techniques and make-up of the armies in The Civil War. We drill and practice going from Marching into Battle Formation, as they might have in The Civil War. (Process Drama)
Day 4 The Battle of Antietam

Purple Words from a Soldier's Letter
Using images and battle maps drawn in class, we examine the events leading up to and then the Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg. Using the Book-It technique of finding dramatic words and activating them, we bring to life a primary source letter from a soldier who has yet to fight.
Day 5 Fort Wagner and the Role of African Americans

Statues
Starting with the Emancipation Proclamation, we examine the changing role of Blacks in the Northern Army, focussing on the 54th Massachusetts and their heroic assault of Battery Wagner. A drama game intended to capture the many emotions raised by the degrading, uplifting, heroic stories of African Americans in the Civil War.
Day 6 The Hunley and Civil War Technology

 Communicating with Flags
An examination of various new technologies introduced during The Civil War, including photography, telegraphy, hot-air-balloon recognizance and submarine warfare. We end with the story of The Hunley and its mysterious disappearance. Using flag-waving methods of communications, class members attempt to transmit words.
Day 7 Vicksburg

Radio Play of The Siege
The story of US Grant's many attempts to take Vicksburg, ending with the successful siege. Adapted from real letters from a siege survivor, we present a three act radio-play with the class broken into three parts.
Day 8

Gettysburg

Play it As You Go

Using the style of creating the story as we act it out, the class recreates the 3-day battle of Gettysburg, with each student representing an important officer of that battle. Using the style of creating the story as we act it out, the class recreates the 3-day battle of Gettysburg, with each student representing an important officer of that battle.
Day 9 Sherman's March 

Bringing The Gettysburg Address to life 

We start with Lincoln's Gettysburg address and a description of the carnage and the memorial created there. Then we move to the carnage of Sherman's March across the South. Using a combination of Book-It's purple word technique, tableaux, and story drama, we bring to life Lincoln's famous speech.
Day 10 Petersburg and The End
 Captain! O, Captain
The stories of the end of the war, starting with Petersburg and the Crater there, continuing through Appomatox Courthouse, and ending with Lincoln's Assasination. Together we look at the metaphoric and dramatic resonance of Whitman's poem.
 
List of Books and Websites
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Historian in Residence © 2008 Mary Anne Christy