Lesson 2

A Virtual Tour of Civil War Battlefields

Lesson 2: Beginning at Bull Run (First Manassas)

Grade Level: 9 - 12

Subjects: Driver Education, English/Language Arts, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes:

students will understand the outcome and significance of the Battle of Bull Run
students will be able to identify the geographic features of the battlefield and the surrounding area
students will be able to demonstrate how to plan a trip to and from the site of the battle

Duration of Lesson: One 90 minute class period

Materials: Paper and pencil

Technology Tools/Courseware: Internet access, MS Word

Teacher Notes:

Students will be utilizing the Computer Lab to conduct internet research for at least 50 minutes. All applicable rules and provisions for use of the lab will be observed.

Students may utilize outside resources as desired

Procedures:

Students will imagine that they are a reporter for a major northern newspaper (ie. New York Times, Washington Post, etc.) and that they have been dispatched to cover this first important battle of the war. They will write a lead story for their newspaper describing the battle, the reaction of the crowds from Washington which had come to watch, and most importantly, their thoughts on what this battle portends for the war.

Utilizing the internet, students will research to provide backgroung information for their stories.

Modifications: Students can work in small groups allowing each student to do a task at their level of comfort/ competence. The teacher may read directions and demonstrate with a projection device.

Enrichment Activities: For extra credit, students may try and find photographs of the battle to supplement their news story.

Evaluation/Assessment: Review each student's newspaper article.
                                                Rubric:        4 - complete, includes all appropriate data, shows understanding of concept
                                                                   3 - complete, contains adequate data, show understanding
                                                                   2 - incomplete, several errors in data, some understanding
                                                                   1 - participated, many errors, little understanding
                                                                   0 - did not participate

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives's

Language Arts: 9.3, 9.25, 9.34, 9.39, 9.59, 9.77, 9.90, 9.92, 9.95, 10...
Social Studies: 9.30, 9.31, 9.39, 9.51, 9.52, 9.53, 9.54, 10.25, 10.60
Driver Education: DE1, DE5, DE33, DE35, DE38, DE39, DE43

National Standards

Language Arts
1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process
4. Gathers and uses information for research purposes
7. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts
9. Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media
10. Understands the characteristics and components of the media
Social Studies
1. Understands and knows how to analyze chronological relationships and patterns
2. Understands the historical perspective
14. Understands the course and character of the Civil War and its effects on the American people
Geography
2. Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment
17. Understands how geography is used to interpret the past
Technology
1. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems
2. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs
6. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

Job/Career Clusters

Health, Human Services, Business/Marketing, Engineering/Technical

References:

Downey, M., Giese, J., & Metcalf, F. (1996). United States History: In the Course of Human Events. New York: NTC Publishing Group

Authors: Gary King Jill James Bill Powers

Braxton County High, 200 Jerry Burton Drive, Sutton, WV 26601


Unit Overview	Lesson 1	Lesson 2	Lesson 3	Lesson 4	Lesson 5