sumhsA1heroes

Title: CIVIL WAR HEROES

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies, Study Skills

Learner Outcomes:

Students will

read excerpt of Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage
discuss concept of war hero
research a Civil War hero
create a poster for researched hero

Time Frame: 4 days; 90 minute blocks; not consecutive class periods

Materials:

Excerpts of The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane Chapter 1
List of Civil War Heroes for students to research
Discussion evaluation form
Poster rubric

Technology

Internet Search
Adobe Pagemaker page design software

Teacher Notes:

Read chapter one of The Red Badge of Courage
Prepare a list of heroes of the Civil War
Become familiar with page design software or use a newsletter template
Prepare discussion and poster rubrics

Procedures:

Day 1

Journal Writing: Before reading write your definition of a hero. Characterize a war hero.

Read assigned excerpt from chapter 1 of Crane's The Red Badge of Courage. (The part where Henry fantasizes the glories of war and being a hero)

Form groups to discuss Henry's fantasy.

What expectations does Henry have?
What realities is he forgetting?

Have each student look at list of Civil War participants from several internet sites and/or library book sources.
Consult a number of searches to find these and other Civil War heroes.
Prepare notes that cover the following questions:

Who is the hero
Key battles fought in
What did he/she do to qualify as a hero
What impact did the action have on war or battle

Day 2

Continue to conduct internet searches from several civil war sites in link collecting information for Day 3.

Day 3

Students will use page design software and graphics to create a poster celebrating the hero. Poster should include a title of celebration, brief article explaining the person's role in the war, a photo if possible, any graphics that thematically enhance the poster.

Day 4

Continuation of day 3 working on posters

Modifications:

Newsletter templates may be used instead of Adobe Pagemaker software

Enrichment activities:

Read excerpts from The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw featuring heroes of World War II
Interview local veteran's of World War II, Korea, or Vietnam
Prepare a local heroes newsletter or booklet
Read other Civil War stories
Read rest of The Red Badge of Courage

Evaluation/Assessment:

Total assignment will be worth 60 points tabulated using the following forms

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives (IGOs):

Social Studies 9.30, 9.42, 10.60

National Standards

This lesson plan corresponds to Language Arts IGOs 9-12 in the following categories:

writing skills
reading comprehension
listening/speaking
computer technology
study skills

References:

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Adobe Pagemaker page design program
Flag Graphic credit

Internet Sites

Civil War People	Civil War Battles
Civil War Women	Civil War Images
Civil War Photographs	Civil War Graphics

Created by Jane Meador, Linda Meadows, Betty Jo Williams, Summers County High School, Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia.