Understanding Yesterday's Events Using Today's Communication

Civil War: Pieces of the Puzzle Lesson 2

Grade Level:
6-8

Subject(s):
Language Arts
Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:
Students will create a series of e-mail communications that will reflect their knowledge of American Civil War events.

Time Frame:
2-3 (50 minute) class periods

Materials:
pencil/paper

Technology Tools/Courseware:
Internet resources
Individual e-mail addresses
E-mail program

Teacher Notes:

Be sure AUP's are reviewed and that student's have proper authority to use the internet.

Establish e-mail accounts for students who do not have one. All students can be directed to open an account at the same source, such as Care-Mail. We suggest that the teacher open a free email account for the specific purpose of receiving the students' work. Every student will sent the mail directly to the teacher. The Subject would be the name of the recipient. That way the teacher would have access to all student work, and can print out the letters to be delivered to the recipients.

Procedures:
    1. Direct students to Civil War sites that display a Time Line of major events of the war.
    2. Students are to choose one year during the Civil War (1861 through 1865) and read about each of the major events listed.
    3. Students are to be divided into pairs of writing partners.
    4. Students are to use email to correspond with his/her partner about the events he/she has read. They are to react to events as if they have experienced the event as a participant or an eye-witness.
    5. Allow the students to research 2 to 3 particular events they may find to be important or interesting.
    6. Each student is to write a brief account of the event he/she has participated in or has witnessed on a standard e-mail form. This account is to be sent to the student's writing partner.
    7. The recipient should respond to each piece of e-mail in a timely manner.

Modifications:
Students may work in any size group the teacher feels is appropriate in order to complete the activity.

Enrichment activities:
Students may find a Civil War site that requests feedback and send comments regarding the site to the site owner.

Evaluation/Assessment:
E-mail documents should be scored for complete thoughts and accuracy of content. Teachers may choose to use a standard 100 point scale or a teacher-made rubric.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives (IGO's)
Language Arts
    Reading Comprehension: 6.27, 7.30, 8.22
    Writing: 6.64, 7.60, 8.62
Social Studies
    History: 8.48
    Computer/Technology: 8.70

National Standards
Language Arts Standard 1, Grades 6-8, Benchmark III

Workplace Process Skills:
Morgan County Career Development System
Grades 6-8
Goal II: Skills to interact with others

References:
WV English-Language Arts Council provided the model for the 3.8 paragraph (author unknown)
Timeline compiled by Joanne Freeman (Encyclopedia of American History by Richard B. Morris)
The Huge Free Email Provider List
Civil War Internet Sites

Created By:
Mary Hansen
Sally McCumbee
Susan Thomas
Warm Springs Middle School, Berkeley Springs, WV


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