Title: Reporting from the Frontlines

Grade Level:  5, 6

Subjects: 

• Language Arts
• Technology

1. Use writing strategies to address specific writing purposes (e.g. narrative, descriptive, informative, and persuasive) in paragraphs or compositions.
2. Use a word processor and demonstrate correct keying, editing, and formatting techniques.
3. Describe the battle scenes and provide information from the battle site.
4. Compose a finished news story.

Materials:  Pencil/pen, paper, sample news stories

Technology Tools/Courseware:  Internet and Microsoft Word

Teacher Notes:

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

1. Students and teacher will examine and discuss copies of news articles which illustrate the correct procedure for writing a news story.
2. Students will be shown how to write a two column article in Microsoft Word.
3. Students will practice using Microsoft Word to produce a sample story.
4. Students will select one day of the battle to report on.
5. Using written accounts of the battle found at multiple Internet sites, students will assume the role of a newspaper reporter and chronicle events of the selected day.
6. Using Microsoft Word, students will compose a finished news story.

Enrichment Activities:  Students will complete online worksheet activities found at The Battle of Gettysburg-Teacher's Section.

Evaluation/Assessment:  Class discussion, sample product, daily chronicles, and finished product.

WV State IGO'S:
History:  5.44
Technology:  5.57, 5.58, 5.59, 5.179, 5.180, 5.182, 5.186
Study Skills:  5.162, 5.164
Reading:  5.16, 5.18, 5.20, 5.22
Writing:  5.54, 5.56, 5.61
Listening/Speaking:  5.8

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. Three Days At Gettysburg
2. Ben's Civil War Museum
3. Encarta Encyclopedia
4. Britannica Encyclopedia
5. Discovery