Project #6

Across Five Aprils

Civil War Era Newspaper

A CyberQuest for 8th Grade History

Designed by

Lori Weider
mrsweider@excite.com

Introduction | Objectives | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Information

Introduction

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt is a historical novel about Jethro Creighton and his family from Southern Illinois. The young teen comes of age during the Civil war and assists his family on the farm while his three brothers serve in the military. The author uses family letters and newspaper reports to convey historically accurate information about Civil War battles and the effects of war on the American citizen.

Objectives 

Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the Civil War period as well as the problems and struggles faced by soldiers and citizens.

The Task

Students will work in groups of two and research primary sources written at the time of the Civil War. You will also learn period slang. Using the collected data students will assume the roles of Civil War soldiers and family and write a letter that will be published in the period newspaper. Your writing should reflect the effects of the war, decisions made by citizens and the life altering experiences of war. Your newspaper will also include a northern or southern perspective of the war.

1. A news account of the Battle of Shiloh (written by the student)
2. Letters from fictitious soldiers using authentic period slang. Student writing will reflect the struggles and conflicts faced by citizens during this historic period.
3. An article written by the students stating Fredsrick Douglass's outspoken views of the Civil War.

*The student newspaper sample provides an example of an excellent project. In addition, see the newspaper evaluation rubric.

The Process

Students will be divided into teams of two to work on the newspaper. One individual in the group will research letters from soldiers and the other will research family letters. Both group members should become familiar with period slang.

Organize your data into the categories that will comprise each newspaper article. Remember that organization counts. Use the newspaper template provided by the teacher to enter your data. Do not worry about aesthetics as you begin. Multimedia and special effects will be added later.

In order to receive a grade of excellence the project must meet the following minimum requirements:

Research at the following resource sites. Gather as much data as possible for a complete project. Be sure to double-check your data for accuracy. Your work must be historically correct. You may also find images that will add to your presentation at these sites.

Soldier Talk & Civil War Slang http://www.nps.gov/gett/gettkidz/soldslang.htm 

Life Stories of Common Soldiers

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6732/soldier.html

 

Soldier’s Letters http://www.nps.gov/gett/gettkidz/letters.htm 

 

Image Resources for your newspaper:

 

Selected Civil War Photographs http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

 

TreasureNet – Historical Image Collection

http://www.treasurenet.com/cgibin/treasure/images.pl/Search?search=%2bSub_Category%3a%22Confederate%20Army%20Officers%22

 

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Evaluation

Rubrics for the newspaper will be provided by the teacher.

Each group will receive a grade on their newspaper. Each rubric includes a self-evaluation and teacher evaluation.

Conclusion

Students will share their work with the remainder of the class.

Credits & References

Newspaper image - Newspaper Agency Corporation

Soldier Talk & Civil War Slang - Period slang used by Civil War soldiers.

Life Stories of Common Soldiers - The common soldier's routine is explored in the words of writers—present and past—who have studied the lives of soldiers in depth, or who have themselves witnessed and experienced the battlefields and camps of the Civil War.

Soldier’s Letters - Soldiers wrote many letters during the war and we are lucky that so many of them have been preserved. When a historian reads those letters, he can get an idea of what the soldiers were like and what they thought of while they were away from home.

Selected Civil War Photographs - Civil War period images.

 

TreasureNet – Historical Image Collection - Civil War period images.

 

Last updated on November 30, 2002. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page