Lesson 3 

Title: Wandering West Virginia Part 2 - Harpers Ferry

Grade Level:  4

Subjects:  Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, West Virginia Studies, Technology, Physical Education

Learner Outcomes:   The students will:

do the required minutes of exercise before beginning the unit
demonstrate knowledge of scale and measurement in order to determine the distances
     between Wheeling and Harpers Ferry
demonstrate map skills by locating the absolute location of Harpers Ferry, West
     Virginia using latitude and longitude
use reference materials to research the significance of historical and cultural events in
     Harper's Ferry
use technology including the Internet and e-mail
     participate in a mock trial in order to determine John Brown's fate.

Materials:
John Brown Raid videopack
West Virginia textbooks
WV road maps
other reference books including those in the school library
travel brochures
the film "West Virginia"

Technology:
computers with Internet, e-mail, and Power Point
on-line encyclopedias
TV and VCR

Teacher Notes: An acceptable use policy will be on file.  Letters and e-mail must be approved by the teacher before being sent.  This is a good time to discuss computer etiquette.   The fourth grade classes are also 4H clubs which annually complete a project entitled "Know Your State".  This lesson will fulfill the required report on Harper's Ferry.
A wonderful teacher's guide is available from the site.

Procedures:
Students will research the history of Harpers Ferry using the materials listed above.
Students will e-mail for information.
Students will complete a written report including information on the following:
     1.  John Brown and the other conspirators
     2.  Robert Harper
     3.  Dangerfield Newby
     4.  the arsenal raid
     5.  the aftermath of the raid
Each student will include the report in the  "Know Your State" book.
Students will prepare for and will participate in a mock trial of John Brown.

Enrichment:
    Advanced students can prepare a Power Point presentation of the historical significance of Harper's Ferry.

Evaluation and Asessment:
  The project will be considered completed when each student completes and submits the following checklist:
       ___ demonstrate location in West Virginia
       ___ determine distance from Wheeling to Harpers Ferry
       ___ researched topic
       ___ completed report
       ___ participated in mock trial
       ___ (optional) Power Point presentation
       The teacher will develop a grading rubric based on the above criteria.

WV IGOs
 

National Standards:  http://www.mcrel.org/

References:
Student References: film "West Virginia", West Virginia textbooks, WV maps, travel brochures, other reference books, John Brown videopack
Internet R esources: John Brown chronology
                                notable people
                 Harpers Ferry

Author:
Pat Hanson
Paula Humen
Kay McClintic
Lewisburg Elementary