Title: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Grade Level:  5, 6

Subjects:

• Social Studies
• Language Arts
• Technology
• Math

1. Develop empathy for the bravery of soldiers.
2. Develop an understanding of the emotional impact of war.
3. Share their personal reactions and feelings to what they have learned in both individual and group form.

Materials:  Pencil/Pen, Paper, Poster Board, Glue, Markers, Reference Books

Technology Tools/Courseware:  Internet, Printer, Copier

Teacher Notes:

• Computer Lab Access
• Basic Research Skills
• Basic Composition Skills

1. Using the Internet as well as reference books, students placed in groups of 3 or 4, will collect pictures depicting images of war from the Battle of Gettysburg.
2. Student groups will create a poster collage with their photographs.
3. Student groups will analyze at least 3 photographs using the Photograph Analysis Worksheet.
4. Student groups will share with the class their findings and analysis of their photographs.  A teacher led discussion of the students' reactions and feelings of the photographs should follow.
5. Individually, students will compile a list of adjectives describing the life of a soldier during this battle.
6. With the photographic collages and word list posted in the classroom, students will individually compose an imaginary letter that a Confederate or Union soldier would send home to family at the conclusion of this battle.

Enrichment Activities:  Students will compose an imaginary journal for a Confederate or Union soldier for the three days of this battle.

Evaluation/Assessment:  Completed collage, completed Photograph Analysis Worksheet, group findings, word list, and completed letter.

WV State IGO'S:
History:  5.44
Math:  5.23, 5.26, 5.36
Technology:  5.57, 5.186
Listening/Speaking:  5.4, 5.5, 5.8, 5.13
Study Skills:  5.162, 5.164
Reading:  5.16, 5.23, 5.27
Writing:  5.54, 5.56, 5.61, 5.62

National Standards:

Language Arts: 
1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process 
2. Gathers and uses information for research purposes 
3. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts 

Social Studies/History 
1. Understands the causes of the Civil War 
2. Understands the course and character of the Civil War and its effects on the American people 
3. Understands how various reconstruction plans succeeded or failed 

Math: 
1. Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement 
2. Understands and applies basic and advanced concepts of statistics and data analysis 
3. Understands the general nature and uses of mathematics 

Technology: 
1. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems 
2. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs 
3. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

References:

1. Solider Letters from Gettysburg
2. The Battlefields of Gettysburg
3. Library of Congress
4. Encarta Encyclopedia
5. Britannica Encyclopedia
6. Yahoo-Gallery of Pictures